DENTAL HYGIENE TIPS FOR KIDS - Dr. Nosheen

Are you concerned about your child’s oral health? Have you noticed that your child is suffering from dental problems? If the answer to this is ‘Yes’ then remember your child’s oral hygiene is a significant part of their overall health. Being a parent or a healthcare provider, it is your prime responsibility to take care of the child’s teeth and gums because this is how your kids can achieve excellent oral hygiene for a lifetime.

How to Take Care of Oral Hygiene in Infants?

Infants have their teeth hidden in the gums and they start to break through the gums in around 6 months. It is vital to start good oral care of infants If the gums are healthy the baby will get healthy teeth too due to a clean environment.

Now the question is! How will you clean the mouth of an infant? The answer is very simple, take a soft cloth piece and clean gums of the baby after feeding. Wiping the gums will help to remove the bacteria that can result in tooth decay. After the eruption of teeth, take a soft-bristled brush and clean teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

How to Take Care of the Oral Hygiene of Children?

In the age of 3, kids have their primary teeth and these baby teeth start falling out by the age of 6. This is the time when the permanent teeth start coming in, in this crucial time kids’ oral hygiene should be maintained to keep it decay-free. For the maintenance of good oral hygiene, the routine should be followed by the kids.

To keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy from the age of 3:

- Brush the teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and make the child spit after brushing.

- Brush your child's teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes.

- The habit of flossing should be developed in the child as early as possible.

- Don’t forget to help your child brush overall teeth especially back teeth.

- Visiting the dentist twice a year should be made compulsory for good oral health.  

Best Dental Hygiene Tips for Kids:

Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for a full two minutes will not only help your child to fights cavities and strengthens teeth, but also gives the kids self-confidence of having a fresh mouth.

- For preteens, a power toothbrush might make brushing more fun, during the eruption of permanent teeth Flossing is extremely important to help prevent cavities and keep a fresh breath.

- If your child is fond of sports, then get a mouth guard for him/her to protect teeth from getting injured.

- In case your kids are undergoing braces treatment then use a power brush and floss to avoid the formation of white spots on teeth when braces come off.

- Avoid frequent starchy and sticky food to keep calculus free oral hygiene.

How to Brush Kids’ Teeth?

Step 1: To brush effectively hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gumline.

Step 2: Take a pea-sized toothpaste on the bristles.  

Step 3: Circularly move the brush, in short strokes, to avoid gum irritation move it softly.

Step 4: Finally make sure that your child spits out the toothpaste after brushing.

Have you scheduled your child’s first dental appointment yet? If not, then remember to take your child to the dentist before their first birthday or after his or her first baby tooth is visible. The oral health of your child is the priority of the dental team so take your child for a dental visit right away.

--- By Dr. Nosheen Sarwar I BDS and RDS I Dental Surgeon