Seven Tips For Better Oral Hygiene

A person’s oral hygiene gives away a lot about them without having to say much. Just one glance at plaque-covered teeth or one whiff of bad breath is enough to be wary.

Where children are concerned, ensuring their optimal oral hygiene becomes more difficult because of their neglectful nature and reluctance to brush their teeth. According to the Washington State Department of Health’s 2015-2016 Smile Survey, the Evergreen State is not meeting the Healthy People 2020 objective of 30% for caries experience in children ages 3 to 5. Furthermore, 45% of preschoolers in the State have experienced tooth decay, with 21% having rampant decay that has affected 7 or more teeth. 

As a parent, there are several tips and tricks to help your kids achieve a pearly white smile and fresh breath. Here’s what these are and why you should incorporate them into your child’s oral hygiene routine: 

Brush every morning and night

The first and most important habit to instill in your child regarding oral hygiene is making them brush their teeth twice a day. Children can start brushing their teeth independently by ages 6-8 but need help before that. Therefore, getting them a soft-bristled brush and showing them how to scrub each tooth while also paying attention to the gums and tongue is imperative. With this habit, your little one is off to a good start.

Regular dental checkups 

The American Dental Association recommends that children have two dental visits per year beginning at age one to identify and tackle any dental concerns in due time. According to the Washington State Dental Association, there are over 4,400 practicing dentists throughout the state, ranking at no.7 in the country for dentists per capita (76.6 dentists per 100k people). Hence, finding a pediatric dentist in Lake Stevens or any other city in Washington state shouldn’t be too hard.

When you schedule an appointment with a dentist for your child, the dentist will conduct routine cleaning to remove any plaque deposits that cause cavities, take x-rays to scan for any underlying issues, and diagnose necessary treatment. This will help develop good oral hygiene from a younger age.

Switch toothbrushes frequently 

One common factor in deteriorating oral hygiene is using a toothbrush way past its lifespan. Children, being negligent, often fail to switch their toothbrushes. Therefore, the worn-out bristles and bacteria buildup leads to ineffective brushing. To counter this issue, Dr Inna Silman suggests that you switch your child’s toothbrush every 3-6 months. 

Implement dietary changes

Even if your little one abides by all the tips mentioned above, they are still susceptible to oral health issues because of their diet. Unsurprisingly, kids are addicted to junk foods, especially those with high sugar content. The same affects the well-being of their teeth and gums in the long run.

In order to prevent decaying teeth, caries, and plaque formation on your child’s pearly whites, begin by cutting down on their sugary and starchy food consumption. Sugar and starch become acid in the mouth when they come in contact with saliva. This acid causes tooth erosion, whereby the enamel that protects the teeth wears off. In this way, teeth become susceptible to cavities and decay.

A good alternative to foods high in sugar and starch content is foods high in fiber content. If your child consumes chewy and crunchy vegetables and fruits, preferably fresh instead of cooked, they put their jaws to work and help them function better. Vegetables and fruits are also rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B complex, copper, zinc, iodine, iron, and potassium, which result in healthier teeth and gums. 

Replace sodas with water and milk

Soda is notorious for being a culprit in ruining teeth, with its high sugar and acidity content. Many parents mistakenly believe that fruit juices are a good alternative to soda. However, this is not the case. Like soda, most fruit juices are loaded with sugar and preservatives that deteriorate teeth.

The right replacement for soda and fruit juices consumed by your kid is water and milk. When kids drink water, it carries extra food particles in their mouth away from it, reducing the amount of plaque produced, while milk is known to be a great source of calcium and vitamin B, crucial for strong teeth and bones. 

Flossing and mouthwash 

Alongside their regular brushing, introducing flossing and using mouthwash in your child’s daily oral hygiene routine will favor their oral health. Flossing removes plaque or food particles that may be stuck between one’s teeth. It has been proven to clean teeth efficiently, stimulate the gums, and lower inflammation. These benefits speak for themselves, but dental floss can be difficult for children. Therefore, opt for ready-to-use floss picks which are convenient and readily available.

Conversely, mouthwash provides all-around 360-degree cleaning for your mouth, reaching areas that are brushing and flossing fail to. In addition, most mouthwashes contain fluoride, a substance known to protect from cavities and reduce sensitivity. With the addition of these in your child’s oral hygiene, teeth-related issues shall significantly decrease. 

Use dental sealants

A quick and painless dental procedure that works wonders in preventing tooth decay in your child’s permanent teeth is applying dental sealants. At around age 6, your child will receive their first set of permanent molars. Permanent teeth are prone to having spaces and fissures where food can accumulate and lead to decay.

To prevent this, a dentist can apply dental sealants to your little one’s molars as soon as they erupt. The sealant shall guarantee that any spaces or grooves are covered up, rendering any food particles unable to deposit in them. The second set of molars shall erupt around age 12, and dental sealants should be applied to these too. The benefits of this treatment in safeguarding your child’s permanent teeth last for years to follow.

Conclusion

All in all, improving your child’s oral hygiene is a process that must begin from the day their first tooth pops out. As a parent, it can be a cumbersome process, especially when all your little one wants to do is stuff their mouth with junk foods and hesitate from brushing their teeth. However, with the implementation of the tips mentioned above and lots of resilience, your child’s oral health shall vastly improve, which they will thank you for later in life.