Maintaining a Healthy Smile for a Lifetime
Preventive dental visits are essential to your child’s long-term oral health, but what you do to help them between trips to our clinic is equally important.
Here are some tips that could give your little one the best chance at a lifetime of healthy smiles:
- Help them brush their teeth in the morning and at night, and when they’re old enough, monitor them as they’re brushing to make sure they’re thorough. Setting a two-minute timer or playing their favourite song can make it more enjoyable.
- Be sure not to use too much toothpaste. For children under age three, use a smear of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. For older children, use a pea-sized amount.
- As soon as your child has two teeth that touch, start flossing between their teeth each day. This will keep food particles from harming their teeth. And when they’re older, teach them how to floss on their own.
- Try to limit all-day snacking because frequent snacking feeds the harmful bacteria that produce acids. These acids can lead to tooth decay, so it’s best if your child eats at prescribed times.
- Whenever possible, have your child drink water instead of sugary drinks. If they drink water throughout the day, it rinses away food particles and bacteria.
- Choose tooth-friendly foods such as fruits, crunchy vegetables and cheese instead of sugary snacks.
