Healthy Kids Dental
Teeth play an important role. Our teeth help to break the food we eat into smaller pieces so that we can swallow and digest the food properly. It’s important to take good care of our teeth. Today we will look at healthy kids dental care for your child to have healthy teeth.
HEALTHY KIDS DENTAL HABITS
1) Healthy Kids Dental Habit = Visit the dentist regularly. From six to six months you should take your kid to the dentist to have a check-up. This check-up will show if everything is good and healthy or if it’s needed to do something. Your child should see a dentist before completing the first anniversary and once his or her teeth start growing, kids can get rotten teeth. But, if your kid is feeling any discomfort in any tooth, don’t wait for the next dental check-up and take them to a dentist. Plus, dentist appointments are free for children in the UK.
2) Healthy Kids Dental Habit = Eating healthy. Eating lots of healthy nutritious foods will help maintain strong healthy teeth. Eating too many unhealthy foods, however, will lead to tooth decay which will damage the teeth. So, it’s important to reduce to really small quantities of sugar that your kid is allowed to have. Change from giving them poor nutritive sugary snacks that are full of acids that attack their teeth to tasty healthy snacks. Some healthy snacks ideas are fruits like bananas, grapes, kiwi, and vegetables such as spinach, aubergine, and peppers. Others include cheeses and fresh yoghurts. Also, pay attention to what kind of drinks your child drinks as those smoothies or fizzy drinks can also damage the teeth. Some examples of healthy drinks are plain tap water and fresh milk. But should avoid milk before bedtime.
3) Healthy Kids Dental Habit = Brushing the teeth. You should implement this rule as soon as possible in your kid’s routine. Because as we eat, the smallest pieces of food will get stuck in the places between the teeth. Brushing the teeth will maintain them clean, strong and healthy. At the same time that it continues to be nice and white. And, of course, brushing the teeth at least two times per day will help to avoid having bad breath. Your kid should brush it for two minutes and it’s important to not forget the tongue. Watch your kid make sure he or she is brushing their teeth correctly and help them squeeze on the toothpaste, so they don’t use too much or too little. And the toothpaste should contain enough quantity needed of fluoride for the age of your child as this ingredient help the teeth stay strong. Remind your kid to also not swallow the toothpaste while brushing the teeth and do not rinse with water after (if they are younger than 3 years old).
HOW TO PROPERLY BRUSH A CHILD’S TEETH
Your kid should start by cleaning the outer surface of all the teeth by and down and circular movements of the brush. Then he or she should open his or her mouth wide and start by cleaning the inner surface of the teeth, of the lower and upper jaw with back and forth strokes. Afterwards, clean the biting surfaces of the teeth with a back and forth stroke of the brush. Your kid should rinse his or her mouth properly with water and, again, not swallow the toothpaste.
As your kid gets older and get more experience in brushing their teeth on their own, introduce the flossing step into their routine. Flossing is essential to get the best of healthy oral hygiene as brushing with a brush won’t always take every piece of food that remained between the teeth. That said, flossing can get into between every tooth and fully clean and bacteria won’t accumulate, causing issues and pain.
HEALTHY EATING HABITS
Brushing the teeth and have healthy eating habits will keep anyone’s teeth fit and strong for a longer period of time without be needed any intervention from a professional. Prefer healthy and fibre rich food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Encourage your kid to drink at least six glasses of water every single day to keep them hydrated. Eat different types of food during their day so they don’t get tired of eating the same meals.
ACTIVITIES TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY KIDS DENTAL HABITS
If you need some help in inspiring your child to take good care of their teeth, try these fun easy activities, original planned and created by Nancy Tran, a registered dental hygienist.
1. Healthy Kids Dental Idea = Egg Brushing
Soak a white egg in soda for about twenty-four hours previous to doing this activity. Then give a brush to your child and let him or her brush the egg until it gets all clean and shiny. While doing this activity explain to them how in their mouth happens the same thing every time, they brush their teeth. This visual activity will incentive them to take proper care of their dental hygiene.
2. Healthy Kids Dental Idea = Alphabet Brushing
Print some images of a smiling mouth that shows as many teeth as possible. The paper should be plasticized, so it won’t get wet and ruined. Then draw each letter of the alphabet in each tooth. On the side print smaller pieces of drawings of a single tooth in each card and, again, draw each letter in each card. Show your card to your kid and they should clean the tooth of their image that contains that same letter. Again, talk your kids through the activity to teach them how important is brushing their teeth.
3. Healthy Kids Dental Idea = Flossing with Play-Doh
There are many ways to prepare for this activity. You can use a board or simply put play dough in one large single-rowed block. If you choose a board, you can print one and use two different colours on the play dough. One should represent the teeth and the other one the food that got stuck between them. You choose! The fundamental key in this activity of flossing should be your kid learn how important is to practice that every single day.
