Chirlden's teeth
As a Dental Hygienist, it is often my responsibility to instruct parents on the proper way to care for their children’s teeth. Typically they have questions about how to get their children to brush, should they floss, and when should they begin taking them to the dentist for their routine cleaning and check-up?
I believe it is important to teach children at an early age the routine of brushing their teeth every night. As they get older, they really need to begin brushing in the morning as well. Night is the most important time, however. Without the interruption of drinking water or eating like we do throughout the day, we allow the plaque, which is full of bacteria, to set on our teeth all night which gives bacteria a perfect environment to multiply and cause infection in the gums and decay in the teeth .
One way to get your children to brush is to give them the toothbrush first. Allow them to practice and get used to the habit of brushing everyday. We teach children to brush for two minutes to ensure they have properly brushed all of their teeth. Some parents like to use an hour glass timer and teach the children to brush until the sand runs out. Others like to make it a little more fun and they let the child pick their favorite song. They play it while the child brushes their teeth and once the music stops, so can the child. Then once they are done, an adult should brush their teeth again for them because small children typically do not have the dexterity to brush properly for themselves. Make sure that as you brush their teeth for them,you tilt the toothbrush and slightly aim for the gumline where the tooth and the gums meet. This will help to clean the space between the tooth and the gums where plaque loves to hide and cause an infection known as Gingivitis. Also carefully brush the grooves on the tops of the teeth in order to ensure that the plaque and food debris has been completely removed.
When small children have their baby teeth, they typically have spaces between them. This is good because it allows room for the larger permanent teeth to erupt. As long as you are brushing their teeth thoroughly and making sure the bristles are going between the teeth, flossing is not essential for children, however; you may want to consider at least flossing between the last two teeth (the molars) on top and bottom. They tend to be closer together and there is more opportunity for decay between those teeth.
A mistake that so many parents make, is to put the child to bed with a bottle. This causes what is known as “baby bottle tooth decay”. Some parents put the child to bed with milk or juice after they have brushed their teeth because the child is in the habit of sucking on the bottle as they go to sleep. As they are sleeping, the milk or juice sits on the teeth right where the tooth meets the gumline and causes the enamel to “decalcify” or get soft. Before long, parents notice dark spots on the child’s front teeth right at the gumline. By then, it has already become a cavity. It is important after you brush your child’s teeth that they only drink water before they go to bed.
If you ever have any questions about your children’s teeth or the proper way to care for them, visit your family dentist or give them a call. It is never an inconvenience to help a concerned parent care for their children.
