Best Tips to Keep Kids’ Teeth Healthy

December 14th is International Children’s Day.

In honor of this day, we’re breaking down some of the best ways to help kids learn good oral health habits. As a parent you may have a lot of questions about how much dental care kids need. Here are answers for keeping young teeth clean and healthy:

• When should dental care start? Dental hygiene should start even before the first tooth comes in. Gently run a damp washcloth over baby’s gums to clear away any plaque, germs and bacteria.
• When should I start brushing their teeth? Start brushing as soon as teeth appear using an infant toothbrush and a tiny bit of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, twice a day.
• When should kids start brushing their teeth on their own? Usually by the age of two to three most kids should be able to start brushing their teeth, using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste under adult supervision. Make sure they brush twice a day, morning and night, for two full minutes. Brushing your own teeth with your kids can set a good example.
• When should kids start flossing? Daily flossing should begin as soon as they have two teeth that are touching.

Tips for making brushing fun:

• Let them pick a toothbrush featuring their favorite character.
• Find a 2-minute long song they can brush their teeth to.
• Reward them with a gold star or other incentive for each brushing.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-mouth-14/kids-teeth/dental-health-for-kids

http://www.aquafresh.com/aquafresh-kids/making-brushing-teeth-fun/