Parents can use several strategies to encourage their young children to be enthusiastic about oral hygiene. A practitioner of Pediatric Dental Care in Camas WA can be part of this process by stressing the importance of keeping teeth clean and gum tissue healthy. Regular appointments at the clinic for exams, professional teeth cleaning and additional help children prevent cavities. Routine exams also allow the dentist to identify problems early on when treatment is relatively simple.
Letting Children Choose Products
One way to get kids more excited about taking care of their teeth is to let them choose their own toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and floss holder. They’ll have to stay within certain guidelines, of course. Parents can point out all the suitable brands of toothpaste that contain fluoride, for example. Young children benefit from using a brush designed for small mouths.
The Importance of Flossing
Many parents put off the process of flossing their children’s teeth, assuming that twice-daily brushing is enough for the baby teeth. A practitioner of Pediatric Dental Care in Camas WA generally recommends starting this activity at the toddler stage. This makes flossing part of the daily routine very early on.
The behavior becomes especially important once the adult teeth are in place. Those teeth can last a lifetime if cared for properly at home and with checkups at a clinic such as Lewis Family Dentistry.
Products to Use
Many fun floss holders can be purchased to help kids begin completing their own flossing by the age of six or seven. They typically are able to effectively brush teeth on their own by age five or six. Until then, the floss holder also makes it much easier for the parent to clean between the child’s teeth. Otherwise, the fingers holding the thread have to somehow fit into the child’s mouth, which can be uncomfortable for a youngster. A holder also prevents wasting a lot of the product.
Research has not found any difference in effectiveness between waxed and unwaxed thread for this purpose. Using waxed for the kids will be easier since it moves smoothly between teeth without fraying or getting stuck. You can also connect them on Facebook.
