Teaching Kids to Brush Their Teeth and Floss Correctly
It’s scary to think that children aged as young as 7 have fillings or missing teeth. They haven’t even managed to take care of their baby teeth. That doesn’t inspire much hope for their adult teeth, and these are supposed to last them a lifetime.
Regular Checkups
For most parents, it is difficult to supervise your child every time they do their teeth, especially as they start to get older. That’s why it’s important to contact a reputable dentist, such as this dentist neutral bay, and book an appointment every 6 months.
The dentist will spot any issues and can help you to deal with them before they become a much bigger issue.
Brush Twice Per Day
Children, (and adults), need to brush at least twice a day. When you teach your child to brush it is important they don’t use too much pressure. Simply holding the brush between the forefinger and thumb will limit the pressure being applied.
Too much pressure equates to damaged gums, increasing the risk of infection. It can also damage the hard enamel coating on teeth.
As well as getting the pressure right it’s important to use a small circular motion. This disturbs more plaque and bacteria than straight brushing and is less likely to damage the sensitive surfaces inside your child’s mouth.
Don’t forget, everyone needs to brush for at least 2 minutes every time they brush.
Supervise Them
It’s not always easy to supervise your child as they brush their teeth but it is an important step if you want to protect their teeth. You can even assist them with brushing their teeth until they’re 7 or 8 years old. This will help them to create a good technique.
Change Their Brush
It’s a good idea to replace their toothbrush every 3 months. This is also a good time to check the toothbrush. It should look a little worn. However, if the bristles are flattened then they are using too much pressure and you need to help them reduce pressure while brushing.
Start Flossing
It can be difficult to get the hang of flossing when you start as an adult. However, if you start young it’s simply something you do. As soon as your child has two teeth next to each other show them how to floss and make sure they do it every day.
It’s a good idea to monitor their flossing technique until they are 10.
Diet
Don’t forget that anything high in sugar is going to contribute to tooth decay. Sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth which creates acid as a byproduct. This acid attacks the enamel on your teeth and, once that hard coating is gone, it’s relatively simple for these acids to eat through the softer inner layer and create cavities.
Monitoring your child to ensure they are brushing their teeth and they are doing it properly will help them in the future. But, it must work alongside regular dental visits, your child’s health is in your hands.
