Let’s face it, doing our best to prevent cavities in children can be exhausting.
After all, children notoriously crave sugar and they don’t exactly understand the importance of oral hygiene. As a result, encouraging your children to follow a strict brushing routine doesn’t always come naturally. Fortunately, there are steps that any parent can take to help promote good oral health and make brushing fun.
So, what are the best ways to prevent cavities in children? Read on to find out! We’re showcasing seven simple tips and tricks that are helpful in preventing cavities and promoting good oral health.
Let’s get started!
1. Schedule Regular Dental Appointments
First and foremost, going to the dentist for kids is a crucial step in preventing cavities.
If you really want to minimize cavities, it’s essential to schedule regular appointments with the dentist. Not only will this keep your children’s teeth clean and healthy, but it will also get them in the habit of regular dental visits. This is a great way to teach healthy oral hygiene from a young age.
As a general rule, kids should visit the dentist once they get their first baby tooth. For most children, this happens to be around the age of one. Although these baby teeth will fall out, taking care of your child’s teeth from a young age is the best way for them to develop healthy permanent teeth.
When a child is in the routine of visiting the dentist regularly, they’ll be all the more likely to keep this habit as they grow older. You also want to make a point in making dental visits fun. Allow your child to meet the team at your nearest dental clinic to minimize any feelings of discomfort or nerves.
2. Promote Healthy Brushing
To promote healthy brushing habits in your children, it’s important that you show them your own healthy habits.
When your children witness you taking care of your teeth, they’re going to feel a natural inclination to do the same. For this reason, many parents find it helpful to brush their teeth alongside their children. Partaking in this routine together is a simple way to make brushing feel much less monotonous.
This is also a helpful opportunity to show your child the correct brushing form and to ensure that they’re taking proper care of their teeth and their gums.
3. Buy a Child-Friendly Toothbrush
What better way to encourage your child to brush than to buy a fun and exciting toothbrush?
Fortunately, there are plenty of children’s toothbrushes available that present in anything from fun colors to Disney princesses or automobiles. This is a great way to make brushing feel less mundane and tedious for children. Instead, they can look forward to brushing their teeth and having fun whilst doing so.
4. Highlight the Importance of Flossing
We’ve heard many times before that flossing is equally as important as brushing.
And, yet, it’s still challenging to get into the habit of flossing on a routine basis. This is why highlighting the importance of flossing from a young age is key. With this, the goal is for your children to prioritize flossing their teeth in the same way that they prioritize brushing their teeth.
Again, this is where flossing alongside your child and showcasing the correct form is so helpful. For children, in particular, flossing is effective in removing food particles leftover from sugary and carbohydrate-heavy foods.
5. Avoid Certain Foods
As is the case with adults, there are certain foods that cause cavities in children.
Foods that are high in carbohydrates, sugar and starch are generally bad for our teeth. This could include anything from cake and pasta to soda and candy. Unfortunately, these food items also happen to score high on the list of our children’s favorite foods.
Of course, you don’t have to banish these food items altogether. Instead, it’s best to limit their intake and explain to your children how consuming these food items in excess will lead to cavities. When your child does consume sugary foods that are sticky, encourage them to get into the habit of brushing their teeth or at least rinsing their mouth soon after.
6. Use a Straw
Of course, avoiding sugary beverages isn’t always possible with our children.
To minimize the harmful effects of beverages such as soda, always be sure to present your child’s beverage with a straw. This will allow the sugary beverage to bypass the teeth to a certain degree.
On the plus size, kids love straws! Allow yourself and your children to have fun in selecting kid-friendly straws that are available in a variety of shapes, colors and themes.
7. Encourage Water Consumption
Is your child drinking enough water throughout the day?
As a general rule, children between the ages of 4 and 13 should aim to drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water each day. Not only is water consumption beneficial to our health overall, but it’s also a simple way to help prevent cavities in children. This is one of the most effortless ways for a child to avoid cavities and practice good oral health.
How does this work?
Water helps to wash away harmful bacteria from the teeth, the gums and the tongue. At the same time, water also helps to prevent acid from building up on the teeth. In between brushing, removing this bacteria from the mouth will help to prevent cavities from occurring.
Dealing With Cavities in Children
Are you eager to find the best ways of preventing cavities in children?
The truth is, good oral health starts from the time your child is young. As they age, these healthy habits are going to allow them to develop teeth that look good and feel great. From scheduling routine dental appointments to making your child’s brushing routine fun and exciting, these tips are sure to make the world of difference in your child’s oral health.
Are you ready to schedule your child’s first dental appointment? If so, be sure to schedule a visit today!
Recent Comments