Family Dentistry: Kids & Cavities

When it comes to taking care of your family’s dental health, there’s more to it than the old adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Maintaining good dental health is not only important for keeping your pearly whites, it’s also a crucial ingredient for maintaining your overall health and wellbeing.

Taking care of your teeth and gums helps prevent a variety of dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. 

Top 4 Tips

Here are four tips you should follow if you want to brush away the chances of having dental problems like cavities in the future:

1. Brush and floss regularly: Brushing and flossing daily are the foundation of good dental health. You should brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once per day to rid your teeth of any stuck food particles and plaque. Make sure to brush for at least two minutes each time and make sure that you are brushing down into the gums. If you have young children, make sure that you are supervising their brushing and flossing until they are able to do it effectively on their own.
2. Limit sugary and acidic foods: Fountain drinks pumped with high-fructose corn syrup are your teeth’s worst enemy. Even though sweets may taste good, sugar and acid are the main culprits behind tooth decay. To protect your teeth, try limiting your intake of sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit juice, and acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. It’s also important to avoid snacking between meals, as this can cause the acid in your mouth to linger and eat away at your tooth enamel.
3. Visit the dentist regularly: Don’t cheat yourself by not scheduling a checkup with your family dentistry at least once every six months. Regular dental check-ups are crucial for maintaining good dental health. Your dentist will be able to detect and treat dental problems, such as cavities, early on, before they become more serious. When it comes to cavities, the earlier you catch them, the less expensive they are to fill, so you may be saving big dollars by routinely visiting your dentist.
4. Practice good oral hygiene habits: Maintaining good oral hygiene habits goes above and beyond just brushing and flossing. You should also use mouthwash every time you brush to kill bacteria. Do yourself and your teeth a favor by avoiding tobacco and alcohol when possible. Finally, if you or your kids have braces or any other dental appliances, make sure to follow the specific care instructions provided by your orthodontist or children dentistry. 

As the head of your home, it’s important to educate your children early-on about the importance of maintaining good dental health and the consequences of neglecting it. By taking the time to sit down with your kids and talk about preventative care and how they should be taking care of their teeth and gums, you can ensure that your family has health and beautiful smiles for years to come.