4 Resolutions For Your Child’s Oral Health

February 09, 2018 ABC Children's Dentistry

Another year is upon us, and chances are better than average that 2018 will seemingly fly by just as the other years. The start of the year, however, is an excellent time to re-commit to the health of your family. A very important part of that – especially for your child – is oral health.

In this issue, we’ll share tips for getting 2018 started the right way for your child’s teeth.

Schedule regular dental appointments for your child.
It’s amazing how quickly we scour the internet and phonebooks for a dentist during a dental emergency. But scheduling routine dental appointments is crucial.

For example, the American Dental Association (ADA) confirms that regular dental visits are the first line of defense for professionals to identify potential dental health issues. Also, the visits can put a stop to any issues arising in the first place.

Make 2-minute brushing twice daily a habit.
If your children are already brushing regularly, that’s great. But make sure they’re using the right technique. For example, the ADA provides a cheat-sheet of sorts for proper brushing.

For example, when brushing, your child should:

Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums;
Be sure to brush the outer surfaces as well as the inner and chewing surfaces of each tooth; and
Move the brush gently in a back and forth motion.

It’s also crucial to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. We’ve been pretty diligent about providing information about tooth brushing, with articles including how to select the right brush for your child, selecting the right toothpaste and the right way to care for your child’s brush.

Get with the flossing!
We’ve also talked about why flossing is essential to keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy. Studies clearly show us that brushing – while important – will clean only about a third of your child’s tooth surface area. Flossing will be better at removing particles stuck between teeth and removing plaque.
Cut back on the sugar.
To state the obvious, sugar just isn’t good for any part of your body – and it can be especially harmful to teeth. Besides candy, large doses of sugar can be found in fruit juice, sport drinks and sodas.