Family Dentist Tips for Kids

Beginning with brushing, flossing and daily care and going all the way through to biannual visits to the family dentist, children should be taught all aspects of good dental health. Most children can recite the mantra that they need to brush morning and night, but do they really know how to brush? Teach your children to divide their mouths into quadrants of two sections on top and two sections on the bottom.

Dealing with four smaller parts of the mouth, kids will be more likely to concentrate on all the surfaces. Stress the backs of the teeth, as this is where a lot of cavities occur due to lack of care. Also make sure that you are providing a soft bristled brush that is comparably small for your child’s mouth. It may seem fine to provide a regular adult sized toothbrush, but the size will not allow for proper angles to reach especially the back teeth.

Flossing is not easy to get kids to embrace. Most little ones do not have the dexterity to use floss properly leaving an adult trying to complete the job with hands that are too big to navigate a tiny mouth. It is a predicament, but the main point is to get your little one used to the idea of flossing even if you feel that a complete job cannot be done. When a child does begin to have the skill to floss his or her own teeth, it will not be a foreign or scary concept; it will just be something that he has always done very similar to the transition from you brushing your babies teeth to your small child finally talking a hold of the brush.

When he does take a hold of his own floss, teach him the correct technique. The floss should disappear under the gum line and each side of each tooth should be swept. These are the areas of the mouth that a toothbrush cannot reach no matter how skilled or intent you are at brushing. Kids are also often guilty of “pop flossing” which not only is not effective but is also harmful. Another thing to stress to your kids is “do not swallow the toothpaste,” and with the snazzy kid flavors of toothpaste these days, that may be a hard battle to win.

Lastly, but equally as important as daily home maintenance, is creating a good example for your child by keeping up with your own dental health. Brush together, and make happy memories together surrounding your daily oral health routine. See your family dentist together twice yearly for regularly scheduled cleanings, x-rays, and check-ups. Your good example is the best thing you can give your child.