How To Protect Kids Teeth?

protect kids teeth by brushing teeth

Any parents of young children know all too well the excitement that can accompany the Easter season. After all, there are few opportunities for kids to eat all the chocolate they want. Sadly, however, tooth decay takes no holidays, and if left unchecked, any damage caused to your kids’ teeth over the Easter season can lead to dental problems if left untreated.

So how can parents hope to protect kids teeth? As your trusted local children’s dentist, Dr. Ghassan is here to provide a few quick tips and tricks to help prevent cavities, and avoid root canal treatment and other nasty dental health concerns throughout your child’s development.

In this blog, we will be discussing ways how to protect your kids teeth: 

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Practice a good dental hygiene routine to protect kids teeth

Maintaining a good dental hygiene routine should be considered foundational for parents who are looking to protect kids teeth and keep them healthy as they grow up. Keep in mind too, that developing and upholding a strong daily routine can help prevent cavities over the long term. 

You can help protect kids teeth and keep cavities firmly at bay by brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily (once in the morning after breakfast and then once in the evening before bed), as well as flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash. For kids who are a bit fussy with teeth cleaning or flossing, consider using an electric toothbrush, tooth brushing apps that’ll help keep them engaged, and a water flosser for more gentle yet still effective flossing.

Discuss the importance of dental care with your kids

If any parents are having a difficult time getting their children on the same page when it comes to dental care, then we highly recommend setting aside time to have a discussion with them. You can start by asking your kids if they know what sugar does to their teeth. If they don’t, then proceed to gently explain the realities of dental plaque as well as tooth decay and gum disease. If they have some idea and continue to communicate their understanding, then respond positively and build off of their understanding further to ensure that they feel enriched by and engaged in the discussion.  

Kids can be incredibly perceptive and understanding when they have all the facts laid out in front of them. For this reason, parents definitely feel encouraged to communicate with their kids. In doing so, you may be able to get your little ones more involved in their own dental health and hygiene to achieve the overall objective to protect kids teeth from themselves. 

Consider alternatives to sugary products to protect kids teeth

This next suggestion may not feel entirely possible for many families, and that’s okay! When it comes to special holidays or cultural events that have significance for many Australians, sugary products become more prevalent as it is a time for celebration or personal gathering. 

If you’d like to bring a little more meaning or significance to your celebrations, then for example, why not get your kids involved and interested in some other Easter traditions? For instance, you could swap out an Easter egg hunt filled with plenty of hidden chocolate goodies with the opportunity to paint their own traditional Easter eggs. 

Traditional Easter meals can also be pretty similar to Christmas feasts, providing plenty of veggies and high-fibre foods that can help keep your kids well-fed over the season. If your kids are still craving chocolate eggs and other sweets, however, then you can absolutely provide them with sugar-free alternatives to all their favourite sugary temptations. You can find sugar-free Easter eggs and bunnies at your local supermarket in time for Easter to ensure that your kids can still participate in the season’s festivities without risking any damage to their teeth. 

Eat sugary snacks at certain times to protect kids teeth

One of the most common causes of dental decay in children is the frequent consumption of sugary or high-acidic foods. But kids will eat sweets – that is one of life’s certainties. So the key for concerned parents who want to help prevent cavities and protect kids teeth is to find methods to keep their kids’ sweets consumption as infrequent as possible.

Yes, Easter and other calendar events like their birthdays and even Halloween, can see a spike in your kids eating sweets, but these occurrences should by no means derail the healthy habits that you’ve set up. So we recommend setting just one more healthy habit for these high-sugar seasons: allowing the consumption of chocolate and sugary snacks only during certain times of the day in order to protect kids teeth.

By limiting your kids’ sugar consumption to particular periods within the day, you can not only keep sugar crashes to a minimum but can also better monitor your kids’ sugar consumption and dental health to boot. The best time for kids to eat sugar during the day is usually in the early to mid-afternoon, as their morning brush will have provided their teeth with a protective fluoride coating.

Drink plenty of water between meals

Drinking water between meals can help protect kids teeth and prevent cavities as they grow older. This is primarily because drinking water can counteract the adverse effects of excess sugar consumption in some minor ways, namely by washing out any residue left by sugary foods, thereby reducing the risks of dental plaque developing between brushing.

To help prevent cavities and protect kids teeth, parents can get kids into the habit of drinking a glass of water after every meal or snack. This little addition to your kid’s daily routine is a simple yet effective measure that’ll help protect your children’s teeth over the rest of their childhood years and beyond. 

Drinking plenty of water can also help correct sugar highs or sugar crashes in younger children! This is yet another great reason for parents to carry plenty of bottled water around with them over this coming season and better yet in the long run. 

Schedule an appointment with your family dentist

Last but certainly not least, your family’s celebrations should ideally always end with a trip to your local Epping dentist. That way, you can make sure that any potential damage caused by the season’s higher sugar intake is addressed promptly, helping to prevent cavities and drastically reducing your kids’ risks of falling victim to a host of dental problems. 

At Dentaservice, we pride ourselves on offering effective children’s dental services for kids of all age ranges. Our experienced clinicians can help provide your kids with the strongest start to a lifetime of dental healthcare. Contact us today to schedule an appointment either in time for Easter or once all the chocolate has been eaten up to help keep cavities firmly at bay.