Preventive Dentist for Kids: Getting Kids Excited About Oral Hygiene

A preventive dentist for kids can help to educate your child about the importance of oral hygiene and teach them ways to properly brush and floss their teeth. Good oral hygiene goes a long way when it comes to keeping teeth free of tooth decay and gum disease.

Gum disease is pretty rare for young children, but it can develop in some cases. Many oral conditions are caused by bacteria in the mouth. These germs feed on the sugars in food particles that are left on a person’s teeth, and they convert them into acids that eat away at teeth surfaces.

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental issues young children deal with, and it can lead to baby teeth falling out prematurely. This is a huge problem since these teeth serve as placeholders for the child’s permanent teeth. Taking good care of teeth can help to prevent decay from occurring.

A preventive dentist for kids shares oral hygiene tips

Children who develop good oral hygiene habits early on in life typically keep up with the practice in their adult years. Here are some tips from our preventive dentist for kids:

1. Brush twice daily

Some dentists recommend brushing after every meal, but good luck trying to get a child to do that consistently. Brushing twice a day is just as effective, especially if the child brushes right before going to bed.

This is the most vulnerable time for teeth since saliva production is reduced during sleep. Saliva helps to remove bacteria and acids from teeth surfaces, so the mouth becoming dry during sleep makes it easier for bacteria in the mouth to damage teeth.

Brushing right before going to bed helps to remove sugars that can be converted into acids from teeth surfaces and plaque that has built up on their teeth during the day. That starves oral bacteria of the food they need to damage teeth.

Pediatric dentists recommend brushing your child’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush by making soft, gentle circles. Brushing teeth too hard can damage enamel and gum tissues.

2. Flossing

Flossing becomes important as your child gets older. Young children tend to have large spaces between their teeth, so a toothbrush can be used to clean their sides. As they get older, more of their teeth erupt, and their interdental spaces will start closing up. At that point, parents should start teaching the child about the importance of flossing and show them proper flossing techniques. Flossing once per day is good enough to clean interdental spaces.

3. Biannual pediatric dental cleanings

These treatments are performed to remove tartar deposits on children’s teeth. Tartar is calcified plaque that cannot be removed by brushing. A scaler or sonic tool is used to break down these deposits and remove them.

4. Therapeutic mouthwash

A therapeutic mouthwash goes a long way in protecting teeth against gum disease and tooth decay. Mouth rinses fall under one of two categories: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwashes help clean the mouth and cover up unpleasant smells. Therapeutic mouthwashes have active ingredients like fluoride that help to protect teeth against decay. Therapeutic mouthwash helps to reduce tartar formation on teeth while keeping bacteria populations in the mouth to a minimum. Using a therapeutic mouthwash after brushing and flossing teeth provides an extra layer of protection.

5. Keep sugary drinks to a minimum

Bacteria in the mouth consume sugars and convert them into acids that damage teeth. Denying these microorganisms the fuel they need to form acids, plaque, and tartar goes a long way in protecting teeth against tooth decay and gum disease.

People who have a sweet tooth often find themselves dealing with issues like cavities. The worst thing a child can do is consume sweet things all day long. That means the bacteria in the mouth get all the fuel they need to cause dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay.

6. Substitute sweet drinks with water

Water helps to neutralize acids made by oral bacteria, and it washes them away along with food particles and debris in the mouth. Water also keeps the mouth moist; something oral bacteria do not like. These microorganisms tend to thrive in dry environments.

Encourage your child to drink more water between meals to protect their teeth against acids made by oral bacteria. People who sip on water all day are less likely to develop issues like cavities. 

Visit us for more tips

Routine dental appointments give your dentist a chance to evaluate your child’s developing teeth and the effectiveness of their oral hygiene habits. Call or stop by our Middletown clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hvkidsmiles.com or call Hudson Valley Pediatric Dentistry at (845) 363-4177 for an appointment in our Middletown office.

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