The Best Dental Hygiene Products for Small Children

Many people wonder why anyone would teach children about brushing baby teeth since we get another set of teeth. Even though this first set will eventually fall out, it allows a parent to instill good dental hygiene habits in a youngster. We recommend starting a child on a daily brushing routine as soon as he or she has teeth, and flossing as soon as the teeth touch. Unfortunately, finding the ideal dental hygiene products for children can be challenging, but there are a few creative solutions available.

A Toothbrush Specifically Designed for Baby Teeth

Brush Baby Chewable Toothbrush

It's no secret that toddlers can be stubborn, so the ideal children's tooth brush has to make them want to use it. That's why the Brush Baby Chewable Toothbrush is garnering so much attention from medical professionals and parents. This is one of the most innovative dental hygiene products available for infants and toddlers. This teether features medical grade silicone bristles which clean the teeth as infants or toddlers chew on it. The Chewable Toothbrush is ideal for children with several teeth or infants who are teething. Like traditional teethers, this product can be kept in the freezer to provide relief from incoming teeth.

Tooth Paste for Toddlers

One of the dangers of allowing toddlers to brush their own teeth is the threat of swallowing too much toothpaste. For children under the age of 2 years, a smear of fluoridated toothpaste should be used on the bristles.  For children aged 2-5 years, a pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be used.  Non-fluoridated toothpastes like Weleda Mint Children's Toothpaste are available, but the cavity fighting effects of the fluoride do not exist to help remineralize tooth structure and buffer the pH of the saliva, which reduces cavities. A child should never be forced to use one particular product, because that can create a negative association with brushing if they do not like the product.  So find a product your child likes so they are receptive to brushing!

Prepare Kids for a Life of Good Oral Hygiene

While shopping for your children's toothpaste, your children may see specific products in which they are interested. Some toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes feature popular animated characters that your children prefer. It's important to instill the routine of brushing and flossing into your children by making it seem like a privilege instead of a chore. Since baby teeth will eventually fall out, they serve as practice for the permanent set. If a less effective product is getting your children to brush, then by default it's more effective. Keep this in mind when selecting your children's dental hygiene products and teaching them to brush should be a breeze. Be sure your children see a reputable children’s dentist when the first tooth grows. A cavity-free smile can last a lifetime.

Essential Foods for Healthy Teeth

Although there are the basics of good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing daily and twice-a-year dentist visits, our diet is also an essential part of the process. Nutrition is important for our entire body, and that includes our teeth and gums. It’s critical to not only have a healthy diet, but also to understand which foods in particular promote a healthy mouth.

But people should not only consider which foods to avoid such as sugary and starchy foods that bring plaque-causing bacteria and attack the teeth for up to 20 minutes after eating. They should also consider which foods specifically help their teeth.

Teeth-Healthy Foods

Any food products that are rich in both vitamin D and calcium help create healthy bones and teeth. These include milk, calcium-fortified juices, and other dairy products such as powdered milk.

Fruits and vegetables, the same foods doctors talk to their patients about, will also help individuals with their dental health. Brewer’s yeast and green leafy vegetables, for example, support cell growth and promote a healthy mouth through the folic acid they provide. Also cranberries should be eaten as part of a healthy diet because they interrupt oral bacteria from bonding to the tooth and prevent damage from plaque.

Cell damage and bacterial infection can be reduced by eating vegetables and fruit that contain vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients.  Also, the fibrous nature of celery, carrots, apples and other raw vegetables and crisp fruits help clean plaque away mechanically as well as freshens the breath while eating.

Fight Cavities with Cheese

One food that many individuals are unaware helps to promote overall health is cheese. In addition to having calcium, essential for bone strength, certain characteristics have proven to interrupt the progress of cavities in the mouth. Further, specific types of cheese act as buffers to counteract the acids that attack teeth and also help clear the mouth of food debris by stimulating the flow of saliva. These cheeses include Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss, and aged parmesan.

In addition to the calcium contained in cheese, cheese also contains another vital element, phosphorous. These two elements in cheese support the mineralization of tooth enamel. Moreover, cheese also reduces and in some cases prevents pH level decreases of saliva.

Consuming these various foods can help teeth remain strong and can prevent dental diseases from forming.

Are Pacifiers a Kids’ Dental Problem?

Here at Playtime Dental, our number one goal is to make sure your child's mouth stays healthy. It's never too early to start taking proper care of your child's mouth, and if you have any questions about oral health, we are here to give you answers. One such question that you might have is, "are pacifiers a problem?" The answer to this concern is two-fold.

Problems with Long-Term Pacifier Use

For the first few years of your child's life, using a pacifier usually won't lead to any oral damage. On the other hand, if your child refuses to give up the pacifier, or if it is not taken away by the age of three, long-term suckling will definitely cause damage. This is especially true if your child is still suckling on a pacifier once he or she starts loosing baby teeth. Some of the negative effects endured from long-term pacifier use include:

·         The top front teeth will tip outward and/or not erupt correctly

·         The bottom front teeth will tip inward and/or not erupt correctly

·         The jaws can become misaligned causing bite problems

·         The permanent teeth will come in crooked.

Things to Remember

It's very common for infants and young children to suck on pacifiers. If your child does, you need to make sure that the pacifier is constructed of one piece only. If it's made of two or more parts, or the shield part of the pacifier is smaller than the mouth, it is a choking hazard.

Also, make sure that you don't fasten the pacifier to a string and attach it to your child's shirt. The string could get tangled or caught on something and injure your child.

Lastly, although you may have heard of dipping a pacifier into some type of sweet substance, such as honey, to calm your child when he or she is crying, you should avoid doing this because it can lead to tooth decay.

Contact Playtime Dental Today

Always do your best to provide positive reinforcement when trying to get your child to give up his or her pacifier. Also, make sure your child visits a general or kid’s dentist on a regular basis. The doctors here at Playtime Dental will be more than happy to evaluate your child's oral health.

Kids’ Dental Tips for Busy Parents

Keeping a child’s teeth in great shape is difficult for parents who have other children, jobs, and a home to maintain. There are tons of easy tips that can help keep your children’s teeth in great shape without taking too much time or effort. These quick tips can make a huge difference and can help make life as a busy parent that much easier.

1. Switch to Water: Switching your child’s drinks from soft drinks and juices to water and sugar free drinks is the best way to help keep your child’s teeth clean. Though you cannot always ensure that your child will make these choices in their adult lives, you can help them make good choices at a young age.
2. Offer Fewer Sugary Snacks: Though things like fruit snacks and candy may be a great way to make your child happy, they are often the cause of cavities, rotten teeth, and tooth pain. The average kids' dentist recommends limiting sugar at an early age to cultivate good habits. If your child does have a sugary treat, have the child brush his or her teeth afterwards to remove sugar that may cause decay.
3. Create a Bed-time Routine: Another great way to get your child’s teeth in great shape is to make up a bed time routine. This can help create consistency and can help get your child involved in their own dental health. This will make for a much easier process when it comes to getting your child’s teeth clean. Try encouraging them to brush their teeth while they sing their favorite song or while they watch a video. This can help make a great routine that they actually want to participate in.
4. Get the Kids Involved: The last thing you may want to do is to get your child involved in their own dental health. Let them know how to take care of their own teeth, and let them know why they are brushing and flossing. This will help you to get your child involved and ready to help keep their own teeth clean. Dentist visits are a great place to learn about dental health.

Any of these tips can help get your child ready to take care of his or her own teeth. These tips can help your child create habits that are going to stay with them for years. Though it may seem impossible to juggle life and take care of your child’s teeth, with some help you can get them off to a great start.