10 Tips for Keeping Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

Top 10 Tips for Keeping Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

Every parent has heard the horror stories of kids who have daily tantrums about brushing their teeth, but you also realize how important it is to instill healthy dental habits in your kids at a young age. Dental health is linked to overall health and well-being, and the steps taken while kids are young can have life-long impacts. Here are 10 helpful tips for keeping your kids’ teeth healthy (and maintaining your sanity as a parent).

1.     Encourage healthy eating habits.

What you eat affects the health of your teeth as much as how well you care for them. Avoid sugary foods and sticky, gummy treats that may stick to teeth. Instead, encourage kids to eat healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and limit snacking between brushing.

2.     Make brushing fun.

Not all kids enjoy brushing their teeth, let alone flossing. Buy kid-friendly floss picks, toothpaste, and tooth brushes to make brushing fun.

3.     Make sure they brush twice per day.

Kids who don’t yet have their adult teeth should brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water or kid-friendly toothpaste. If you have a baby who has not yet broken teeth, wipe her gums using an infant gum massager to promote healthy teeth and gums.

4.     Help your kids brush their teeth.

Some kids are able to master the art of brushing their teeth thoroughly at a young age, while others will require help for several more years. Help your kids brush their teeth twice daily until you’re certain that they’re effectively brushing all areas.

5.     Use fluoride toothpaste.

Experts suggest that parents begin using a fluoride toothpaste with children at age three. Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and be sure that your child spits it out rather than swallowing it.

6.     Visit a dentist regularly.

It’s a good idea to schedule your child’s first dental visit by the age of one, but all children should see a dentist by age three. The sooner you begin regular dentist visits, the more comfortable your child will feel with your dental provider.

7.     Encourage your kids to drink water frequently.

When your kids begin to attend school, it’s not always possible to brush after every meal or snack. However, plain water can help to flush away food particles and debris from around the teeth between brushing, which can help to ward off potential decay. Encourage your children to rinse their mouths with plain water throughout the day.

8.     Talk to your dentist about sealants.

If your children are prone to cavities, they may benefit from sealants, a coating applied by dentists that can help to protect cavity-prone areas. Kids with some hereditary conditions, such as amelogenesis imperfecta (a condition that causes porous enamel), may benefit from sealants.

9.     Embrace flossing.

For kids who don’t like brushing, flossing is even more frightening, but flossing is one of the most important things you can do for healthy teeth and gums. Fortunately, kid-friendly floss picks make the task much simpler for children. Have your dentist or hygienist show your children how to floss properly and make sure you know the proper technique so that you can guide them at home.

10.  Use both manual and electric toothbrushes.

Kids often get excited by fancy electric toothbrushes, especially those that play music or perform other interesting tricks. While electric toothbrushes are a good way to get your kids interested in brushing, you should alternate between these and regular, manual brushes to be sure that your children learn the proper brushing technique.

As a parent, you worry about many aspects of your children’s health. By implementing these 10 tips, you can have confidence that you’re doing everything possible to protect that bright, healthy smile that brings you so much joy.

Katybeth Dee was inspired to co-create SelfExam.org after her sister was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 23. She hopes to use the site to spread awareness on preventing illness, as well as lend support to those currently facing their own medical battles. She lives in California with her golden retriever, Luna.

Image 1 via Pixabay by wjgomes.

Image 2 via Traci Burke Photography. 

Breaking Free of the Braces!

This Sunday I'm grateful for Peter's beautiful new smile.  He had his braces removed last week after wearing them for only a year and a half.  It's amazing to me how quickly they make a difference and how fast they can be removed now.  Back in my day braces were for high school and you were lucky to get them off in time for senior pictures!

I was particularly eager for Peter to have the braces removed because of recent concerns about his speech.  Increased drooling, difficultly swallowing, poor articulation, and sleep/apnea patterns are primary indicators that let us know more jaw reconstruction is necessary.  We are hoping to hold off on surgery for another year or two, but it is always hanging over our heads as to when the time will come.  All those concerns made me anxious and hopeful that Peter's speech and increased drooling would improve once the braces came off.

Much to my relief, Peter's speech was better without the braces.  His freedom was short lived, however, once he was fitted for retainers.  Unfortunately, his speech with the retainers is even worse than it was with the braces.  If Peter didn't have the craniofacial hurdles to overcome, he would wear both retainers 24/7 for the next month.  Because his mouth is so small, we are only having him wear the top retainer at school.  It is very challenging for Peter to speak and breathe while wearing both retainers at the same time. He is able to manage it while sleeping though.  Eventually (after about 1-2 months), he should only need to wear them both at night and be appliance free during the day.

It was so fun to see Peter smiling from ear to "ear lobe" (wink, wink) as he left the orthodontist without his braces.  Our orthodontist has been fantastic in adjusting Peter's treatment to accommodate his craniofacial anomalies.  The entire experience, although far from over, has been much smoother than I expected.  The results?  Well I may be prejudiced, but I think he looks quite handsome!

P.S. Peter and I had a giggle fest while I was taking a picture of him for this post.  I said, "You are cracking me up with your posing and cheesy smile."  His reply, "Yeah, that's what I was going for." Another thing I'm grateful for.....  such an amazing son that makes me laugh so much!

What a Smile!

Peter’s only had braces for about six months, and I’m stunned at the change in his smile. The before and after pictures pretty much say it all… A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Although he has complained plenty about having the braces put on, I know they’ve made a positive difference for his self-image.
Two years ago when I spoke to Peter’s class about facial differences, I opened the conversation by asking the students what they noticed about Peter. The first student did not mention his ear, trach stoma, or feeding tube as I was prepared to address. The first comment was about how Peter’s teeth looked different. This was third grade, which is getting past the point of cute gaping holes with missing front teeth. This is the age when permanent teeth come in and you really start to see how your child’s smile is going to look. At that time, Peter’s two front teeth were far apart, and he had a severe overbite (typical of Goldenhar kids). So, yes, his teeth were different.
My concern over the question was not that it had been asked but rather how Peter felt about his appearance. Fortunately, I was able to make a quick segue into how Peter had oral surgery just a few months earlier to extract several impacted teeth in preparation for getting braces. Little did I know it would be one more surgery, many consults, and two years later before he would finally get braces.
I admit I was overwhelmed with how to find the right orthodontist and how much cost and time would be involved. The thought of driving an hour for appointments at our Children’s Hospital was not at all appealing to me. I was also less than thrilled with the clinic environment. Still, I didn’t want to select an orthodontist just because the office was nice and closer to home. My main concern was finding a doctor with an experienced craniofacial background. After consults with three different orthodontists, I made the decision to go with the doctor who was less experienced with craniofacial kids. This was a risk I took only after having an open and honest conversation with her about my concerns. Only then did I feel comfortable enough to offer her a "Team Peter” membership.
Peter used to talk about his “Beaver Teeth”. He would make the remarks jokingly, but I know he was bothered by the way he looked. I’m so relieved this was a relatively easy and painless “fix” compared to most issues we have to address with his medical care. His smile clearly shows the difference straight teeth can make.

UPDATE to post...  Peter's braces were removed in February 2013.  Read our follow up post here Breaking Free of the Braces!