Our kids’ teeth are important. This is why we need to find good dentists.  Children’s baby teeth may only last a few short years but how you look after them can result in better teeth for life. The sooner that baby teeth fall out, it is often the case that they have been consuming more sugar. But regular checks to the dentist will ensure that your child’s teeth are doing well. When they gain their adult teeth, you must be sure to teach them from a young age about the importance of entail health and hygiene so they can continue it into their adulthood. 

There are plenty of things that can affect our teeth and so it’s good that you are aware as a parent of what things can go wrong. There are a list of other issues that arise from poor hygiene and other things, such as: 

  • Tooth Decay.
  • Gum (Periodontal) Disease. 
  • Oral Cancer.
  • Mouth Sores.
  • Tooth Erosion. 
  • Tooth Sensitivity. 
  • Toothaches and Dental Emergencies.
  • Tooth loss.
  • Cavities.

All of these can be prevented and treated but prevention is better than the cure. It is known that regular brushing and flossing can help prevent all of the above but there is a special way that you must go about doing these tasks. Often people brush too hard and some people don’t floss correctly and over time this can lead to cavities which lead to fillings. Fillings are a solution but they don’t last forever and they can be costly.

How To Teach Them To Brush Properly

When we brush our teeth, we often miss areas near the gum line which lead to plaque build up. This is best removed by a dentist in a deep clean but it also makes our teeth age before their time which can lead to tooth loss in later life.  Cavities are sockets and holes caused from erosion caused by lack of brushing properly and general foods, mostly sugars are the worst for this. These small holes often get bigger over time. So here are some little tips to give to the kids! Don’t allow them to snack often, avoid sugary drinks and promote cleaning their teeth well enough twice a day for two minutes with an electric toothbrush where possible. If a cavity is left untreated, it may spread outwards across the enamel and you wouldn’t want your kids losing teeth or getting issues that could affect their adulthood. Regular trips to the dentist are also important and listening to dentists’ advice on your personal issues. 

Here are the top tips given by industry professionals themselves that will assist you when teaching your kids about oral hygiene: 

  • Brush with fluoride toothpaste after eating or drinking, within the hour after is best, if possible. 
  • Rinse your mouth with water or a recommended mouthwash, ask your dentist on which is best.
  • Visit your dentist regularly for checkups – every six months is recommended for your kids.
  • Drink tap water to release any hidden bits of food – promote drinking lots of water for many benefits.
  • Avoid snacking or giving the kids too many sugary treats as this is the number one culprit! 
  • Teach them the health problems surrounding smoking in case they feel pressured at school. 
  • Eat tooth-healthy foods – alkaline foods are best! 
  • Consider fluoride treatments.
  • Floss regularly and floss properly – teaching your kids how to floss is important because this will massively help reduce the build of plaque around the gumline.

What Can Go Wrong If They Don’t Look After Their Teeth?

There are plenty of things that can arise but one of the most common things is gum disease. This is often triggered early and can be detected early too. Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease and is a common occurrence. Gum disease is not only acquired through people who don’t brush your teeth…it can happen regardless but lack of flossing is one of the culprits to triggering it off! Even though gum disease can affect anyone, you should speak to your dentist about it  – sometimes there are other reasons at play as if you have ever suffered with inflamed gums, you may be predisposed to getting gum disease. Having a regular and impeccable oral hygiene routine, to ensure that plaque doesn’t build up and that you don’t lose your teeth. It is easy to forget because we have so many things on the go all at once, but deedciating just a little bit of time to get into a regime will be vital and will help you for a lifetime. 

Dentist

The products that can help you are: Crest® PRO-HEALTH® Multi-Protection Mouthwash is an excellent complement to Crest® PRO-HEALTH® Advanced Toothpaste. Mouthwash such as Listerine is good but you should ask your dentist what they recommend. Mouthwash isn’t recommended for young children but Colgate do have mouthwash for kids that is safe. They will also kill germs in the mouth and reduce bad breath. Making oral hygiene fun is going to be great for kids, they will be able to appreciate the benefits whilst making it fun! If they have siblings, make it part of the family teamwork! 

If you notice that your child’s teeth aren’t growing in straight you can always talk to dentists about options for braces but often you need to wait until their teeth have grown to a certain extent before looking at these options. Taking care of your teeth is so important for kids, and unfortunately as kids, they don’t have the understanding of their teeth to realise why it’s so important. Don’t despair though, because as your child approaches adulthood, you should have already armed them with enough knowledge for the future and with all the technology of today, such as veneers, teeth whitening and invisible braces, they can certainly get their teeth sorted and give them a level of confidence if they have been plagued by issues in their youth. No kid likes the dentist but choose a good dentist and be sure to look at reviews; kids want dentists who are personable and understand kids. Without this, they can feel intimidated; but it’s possible to get things started!