Setting routines with kids while they鈥檙e young is one of the best ways to set up healthy habits for life. From teaching them proper techniques and getting them in for checkups to making sure they have healthy portions of great foods to eat, parents and guardians will have the biggest influence on their kids鈥 dental health.
How often should kids brush their teeth?
A thorough cleaning of the teeth once a day or once every other day is preferable to a poor job done more frequently for removing the harmful effects of dental plaque.
Do kids need to floss?
Children whose teeth have closed or tight contacts need to floss daily.
What habits can damage teeth?
鈥淔requent sipping and snacking, in my opinion, is the greatest factor in children鈥檚 dental decay,鈥 says Laurin Rackham, DMD, an assistant professor at the at the University of Utah.
It鈥檚 not uncommon for children put food or drink in their mouth 20 to 30 times a day. Whatever the volume or variety, it鈥檚 the frequency that puts teeth most at risk.
How do fluoride treatments help teeth?
Fluoride exposures (fluoridated water, fluoridated toothpaste, professionally applied fluoride varnish twice yearly) reduce the risk for cavities and enhance the remineralization of affected tooth structure.
When should kids get sealants on their teeth?
The greater the risk the child is at for cavities, the earlier the better. This includes both primary and permanent teeth.
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