Taking Care of Kids Teeth

If we want our kids to have healthy teeth, we have to start early and start the right oral care habits. The other week, our whole family went to the dentist to have our regular check-up and teeth cleaning.  I also picked up a hand-out about basic oral care for kids.  I would like to share some of the important points to remember when it comes to taking care of our kids teeth.

How can I help keep my child's teeth cavity-free?  Their teeth should be brushed properly with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day (morning and before bed, after every meal is ideal) spending at least 2 minutes brushing.  Generally, kids under 8 will need help brushing, which means brushing for them the areas they might have missed on their own. It is also important to give them healthy snacks like bread and fruit and to stay away from too much sweets including softdrinks.



How should I brush my child's teeth?  It is helpful to stand behind your child and tilt his or head back then
1. Start by cleaning the chewing surfaces using short back-and-forth strokes.
2. For the outer tooth surfaces, place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline.
3. Move the brush back and forth in short gentle strokes.
4. To clean the inner front teeth, hold the brush vertically and use gentle up-and-down strokes with the tip of the brush.
5. Make sure the gumline and back teeth are cleaned thoroughly. 

How can I teach my kid to brush her own teeth?  This is challenging because sometimes the child resists your brushing their teeth.  My 3 year old insists on brushing her own teeth, so she needs to learn how.  Start off with simple brushing technique, for example, a small circular brushing motion.

It is also important to keep the child enthusiastic about brushing their teeth.  I found this video with a nice teeth brushing song to help make tooth brushing time fun for our kids.