Oral Care For Kids

Kid's need healthy teeth for chewing, speaking clearly, and having a bright smile. With the many advances in denistry and oral care, today's children are more likely than ever to grow up with strong, healthy teeth. Good oral care begins with you, the parent, you play an important role in your child's dental health.

Whether you're teaching your child how to brush properly or taking them to the dentist for a checkup, keeping your child enthusiastic and motivated about caring for his or her teeth is very important.

Quick Guide to Starting Early

Your child's first dental visit should be between the eruption of the first tooth and his or her first birthday.

Brush your children's teeth until they are around three years old, then start encouraging them to join in. Supervise their brushing until age eight. Children under four should use a simple brushing technique - such as a small, circular brushing motion. Select a children's toothbrush with a small brushhead and soft bristles. Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to rinse and spit out any toothpaste left after brushing.

Baby Teeth

Usually, between the age of six months and one year of age, the first teeth to appear are the baby's front four teeth (two on the top and two on the bottom). These are often accompanied by sore or tender gums that may appear red or swollen. This stage is known as teething.

Teething can be a stressful time for both parents and infant. There are, however, some things you can do as a parent to relieve an infant's mild to moderate discomfort. Teething pain can be eased by administering cold to the baby's gums. If you don’t have a store bought gum soother you can do the following with close supervision. Take a clean, soft washcloth, soak it in apple juice, and wring it out. Next tie the cloth in a knot, and place it in the freezer until it is 'frozen'. It will not freeze hard like water does, but will be much softer. When frozen give to you infant, placing it first in his mouth, then his hands. You will see almost immediate results. Babies love apple juice, most doctors approve it for even very young infants, and the combination of the cold and the slight roughness of the wash cloth will begin to ease your baby's pain.

At around three years old, most children should have a complete set of 20 primary (or baby) teeth. It's important to take care of these first teeth, even though they will be replaces by permanent teeth. This is because your child's baby teeth hold the spaces of the permanent teeth to com in.

The importance of your child's diet.

Children are the most at risk for cavities. They tend to eat more frequently and have not yet become experts at brushing their teeth. So it's vital that their teeth are brushed properly with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, which means brushing for them the areas they might have missed on their own. Give them healthy snacks, like bread and fruit, to help keep their teeth cavity-free.

Guide children away from sugary foods and drinks and reduce the number of times they have them during the day. By serving them at mealtimes you can always have your child brush right after eating.

Brushing Age

While it varies from child to child, generally children under the age of eight will need help brushing their teeth. Whether you are still brushing your child's teeth or just supervising, you should follow these simple guidelines:

Brush at least twice a day - in the morning and just before bed. Spend two minutes brushing - concentrating on the chewing surfaces and back teeth, where cavities often first develop. Use a pea-sized amount of children's fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to spit out any toothpaste left after brushing. Look for a brush that is suitable for your child's age and dexterity. Don't share brush between children. Brushing your teeth together sets a good example and helps your child to learn, by watching and imitating you. As early as you can, start cleaning in between your child's teeth. Ask the dentist bor advice on when this should begin, and how to do it.