Posted: August 22, 2014
Families should know that diligent dental hygiene early in life will build to a healthful, daily teeth- and gum-care ritual throughout life.
Here are six tips from your Buffalo-area dentist to insure that kids develop this essential personal care habit.
- Children are most likely to become accustomed to regular tooth brushing after mom and dad have brushed for them and with them from a very young age.
- Show kids how to brush both the front and back sides of their teeth, in addition to brushing their tongue.
- Make brushing fun for kids with a tooth-brushing song or sticker reward chart.
- Children respond well to predictable routines. Make tooth brushing a part of your child’s day by doing it at the same two times each day: once in the morning after getting out of bed and again in the evening just before bed. Brushing before bed also can become part of a “sleepy time” ritual that sets up your child for restful, restorative sleep.
- Fluoride is important because it strengthens tooth enamel and prevents cavities. After introducing a mild fluoride toothpaste, be wary of children attempting to swallow that toothpaste. Kids who ingest too much fluoride in this manner can develop a condition called fluorosis, which causes them to have spotted teeth.
- Flossing may also be necessary, particularly when kids have teeth growing very close together. Floss around kids’ teeth as you would your own; some parents find that dental flossers are easier to use with kids than tooth floss string.
Forestream Dental is dedicated to treating all of the members of your family. Please contact our Buffalo area dentist today to schedule your child’s first appointment or to schedule a complimentary dentistry consultation to learn more about us. We proudly serve patients in Buffalo, Amherst, Lancaster, Orchard Park, and Williamsville, New York.
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