Your children’s oral health is very important because it can affect children’s ability to speak, eat, and social interactions, and if children’s teeth are not taken care of, they may require painful treatments. Making sure your child brushes twice a day is an important part of maintaining their oral health.
Also, your child must visit the dentist regularly to have their teeth checked and cleaned. Children should be introduced to the dentist when their teeth start to grow and then go to the dentist every six months to have their teeth checked and cleaned.
Unfortunately, getting children to brush their teeth (when they are old enough) is not easy, but it is necessary. Children are usually more eager to brush their teeth while playing. As a parent, you have to be creative in getting them involved in their dental care routine.
Although baby teeth are temporary, it is still important to keep them clean and healthy. If these teeth are not cared for, your child may develop gum disease and decay of baby teeth, which can be painful and affect their permanent teeth.
According to the Canadian Dental Association, to clean children’s teeth you should:
If your child does not have teeth yet, you should follow the above instructions but use a wet cloth instead of a toothbrush. For children under 3 years old, you should brush their teeth instead. Between the ages of three and six, you can let your children brush their teeth with your help.
Hold the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees to the teeth and then brush in a gentle circular motion. In front of the teeth, use the front tip of the toothbrush to clean the teeth. Return the toothbrush vertically to the inner corner of your child’s teeth.
To floss, take a piece of floss the length of your child’s arm, and wrap it around your two middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches of it in your hands.
Press the floss against the teeth and guide it to the junction of the tooth and the gum using your middle finger.
Wrap the floss around the tooth in a shape that looks like the letter “C” and move it up and down to clean the tooth. Use a new section of floss for each tooth.
After flossing, throw it in the trash. Never flush it down the toilet.
Do not use toothpaste before your baby’s teeth appear. Consult your dentist for advice on when to start using fluoride toothpaste.
At the age of 0 to 3 years, use toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
From ages 3 to 6, increase usage to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Use a toothbrush
Using a soft wet towel, clean your baby’s mouth first. After baby teeth appear, ask your dentist when it is better to switch to a toothbrush and which type of toothbrush is best.
To get the most out of your dental care, we recommend:
The best way to start is to start early. Establish the routine of brushing your teeth from the beginning in such a way that your children get used to it and enjoy it. Once you get the hang of it, brushing your teeth will no longer be a chore.
Establish a simple routine, such as brushing your teeth, reading a book, and going to bed. Your children will get familiar with it and brushing their teeth will return to normal. Establish a routine that works for your family and give it a name so your kids know what to expect each night.
Children enjoy imitating their parents’ actions. When your child is brushing his teeth, be with him and brush your teeth too. Together with your child, show them all the steps with bigger movements. entertain him
Help your children enjoy brushing their teeth more by creating a fun atmosphere. Help your children enjoy this time by adding music, dancing, and games to brushing time. If children are interested in these activities, they are likely to be more interested in brushing their teeth.
Apart from turning brushing your teeth into a fun game, you can tell your child a short story. For example, a story about a little boy or girl who becomes a hero by defeating the “villain” (in this case, decay) and saving a child’s tooth. Using a thought-provoking story may encourage a child who is not willing to cooperate in brushing his teeth.
Wherever possible, involve your child in the routine. If you have the “villain” in your child’s mouth for a game of dodgeball, let the child complete the task of catching the villain. Also, from the very beginning, when buying a toothbrush and toothpaste, involve your child in choosing them.
We all like to see a reward for a job well done. Reinforcing positive behaviors is one way to motivate your children to brush better. You can give them a gold star or after brushing your teeth, let them choose their favorite book to read at bedtime.
Some children have a problem with brushing because they don’t like the taste of toothpaste. Consider switching to a toothpaste with the child’s favorite flavor. Children’s toothpastes usually have less intense flavors that are more appealing to children.
Even though brushing is an integral part of your child’s oral care routine, it can still be difficult to get them to brush properly. By combining brushing, scaling, and regular visits to the dentist in Toronto, you can help maintain your child’s oral health.