Tooth decay is a significant health problem that affects the whole family, including adults and children. When your teeth and gums are unhealthy, it can affect the rest of the body. Diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and even cancer can be associated with poor oral health. That’s why helping your kids keep good dental hygiene will keep them feeling fantastic. You’ll also feel great knowing you’re spending less money while your kids are spending less time in the dentist’s chair because of good dental hygiene.
Your Provider for Excellent Family Dental Hygiene
Rider Family Dentistry is here for you and your family’s dental needs. Dr. Cassady Rider prides herself on providing high-quality, affordable, family-friendly dental care. Call us today. We look forward to meeting you and your family.
Some Great Family Dental Hygiene Tips
We want to provide some great tips to help kids learn effective dental hygienic habits. We ask that parents continually work with their kids until they learn to do an excellent job with these habits independently.
- Brushing and flossing every day will keep the doctor away. Brushing and flossing every day can help keep the doctor and the cavities away. These may be difficult habits for your kids to keep at first, but they’ll be glad they did. These are two pretty easy tasks that, when practiced consistently, can mean less time in the dentist’s chair. You can reduce plaque, tartar, and calculus by brushing and flossing. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the surface of teeth. It’s a bacterial colony made up of living bacteria, food, and saliva. Plaque bacteria break down food particles into acids, which cause tooth decay.
- Family dental hygiene brushing tips. Have your kids brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush. They should brush all the tooth fronts, tops, and backs in a circular motion at a 45-degree angle to the gums, making sure the bristles are always on the gums. They should brush for two minutes at least twice a day, especially before going to bed.
- Don’t forget to floss when you brush. Cavities like to hide between teeth, where it’s harder to clean. This is why your kids need to floss. Flossing disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing gum, tooth, and bone damage.
- Maintain a good diet. Especially with children, a diet including harmful foods can cause gum disease and tooth decay. And as we all know, kids love sweets. Sugary, acidic meals and drinks, such as sweets and fruit juices, can wear down tooth enamel and lead to cavities. Fermentable carbs in these types of foods can worsen the decay process:
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Bread
- Crackers
- Cereal
Fortunately, your kids don’t have to avoid their favorite meals if you help them practice good family dental hygiene habits. But please help them enjoy these foods in moderation to prevent plaque and bacteria buildup in the mouth.
- Chewing sugar-free gum can help keep the cavities away. Your kids may be pretty excited to learn about this tip. Chewing sugar-free gum can help by stimulating saliva and neutralizing acids in the mouth, washing away food particles. Chewing gum is especially helpful after snacking.
- Gargle, swish, and rinse with mouthwash. Have your kids rinse with a fluoride mouthwash after brushing. Do this especially before going to bed.
- Drink lots of water. Have your kids drink lots of water every day. This is good for general health, but it helps rinse away the material that can cause cavities. They should also rinse with water after meals and especially after snacking on sweets and foods with fermentable carbs.
- Use fluoride. As recommended by our dentist, your kids should brush with ADA-recommended fluoride toothpaste. Tap water can be better for cavity prevention than filtered or bottled water, as many areas in the US provide fluoride in the water.
- Maintain regular dental appointments. Regular checkups and cleanings are critical for great family dental hygiene. Your kids should have routine checkups and cleanings about twice a year, depending on your dentist’s recommendations. Start these appointments with us early – as early as when your child’s first tooth comes in. Professional cleanings help keep your kids’ mouths as clean as possible and prevent cavities.
The Best Family Dental Practice in Cherokee
One of our goals is for your children’s teeth to last a lifetime. We can accomplish this by helping you teach them how to care for their teeth at home. Your kids will have the best dental health if you help them practice good cleaning and dental hygiene habits. Make an appointment with Rider Family Dentistry today, and we’ll help you go over those habits with your child.
We’ll provide recommendations in a fun, comfortable environment. Just give us a chance. We’ll bring out that smile in every member of your family.