“Did you brush your teeth?” If I had a dime for every time I uttered that phrase to my kids, I would be a rich woman! Dental health is vital to overall health, and it is important to teach children the importance of taking care of their teeth. Here are some helpful tips to enhance your child’s dental health:
• Regular care by a dental professional. During regular well-child visits, your child's pediatrician will check your child's teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. By the time your child is a toddler (2-3 years old) he/she should be seeing a dentist twice per year.
• Include fluoride. Fluoride is a natural chemical that can be added to drinking water and toothpaste. It strengthens tooth enamel and helps repair early damage to teeth. Because children tend to swallow toothpaste, put only a small (pea-sized) amount of fluoride toothpaste on your child's toothbrush and press the toothpaste into the bristles. Taking in too much fluoride while brushing can result in fluorosis (spotting of the teeth).
• Regular brushing and flossing. Daily dental cleaning should start as soon as a first tooth appears. Any 2 teeth that are touching each other should be flossed to prevent a cavity from forming between the teeth.
• Proper Nutrition For healthy teeth, offer your child a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods. Drinking water with fluoride is an excellent way to keep teeth healthy. Refrain from giving your children soda or sugary juice.
There are organic toothpastes available with all-natural ingredients. Tom’s Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Children is the first natural toothpaste for children to carry the ADA seal. It includes calcium and silica to gently clean teeth and fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. Your children will love the sweet taste of real fruit, and will enjoy cleaning their teeth! No more struggles over teeth brushing!
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