6 Oral Hygiene Tips For Parents

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6 Oral Hygiene Tips For Parents

There is no doubt parents have difficulty encouraging their children to practice good oral hygiene. Not only do children have their own ideas, when it comes to oral hygiene, but also they do not want to be bothered with constant tooth brushing, flossing and following the proper diet. Whether you are a first-time parent or have several children, oral hygiene plays a major role in your children's health. Below, you will discover 6 oral hygiene tips for parents.

Proper Brushing Techniques

As soon as your children become old enough to hold a toothbrush, you should start teaching them how to properly brush their teeth. This will not be an easy step, since it entails positioning the bristles at different angles. It will take a bit of practice to get the technique down pat, but if you are patient throughout the process the child will catch on.

Teach the child to place the bristles against their teeth and gum line. Utilizing a back and forth and up and down motion is a necessity to reach every area of the gum line and teeth. The bristles should also be angled at a 45-degree angle throughout the process.

Do Not Forget The Tongue

When some people think of oral hygiene, they do not give much thought to their tongue. Bacteria from foods will get trapped in the tongue and on the roof of the mouth. It is crucial that the tongue and roof of the mouth is included in the brushing process. The experts at the local downtown Vancouver dentist office recommends brushing these often-neglected areas gently to remove bacteria. Any bacteria left behind after brushing will cause bad breath.

Flossing

Now, if you thought teaching your children how to properly brush their teeth was difficult, you will definitely struggle with flossing. This process involves removing any food particles or bacteria trapped between the teeth. The bristles cannot reach far enough in between the teeth to remove the food particles and mouthwash will do not do the job either.

Your child's dentist will recommend floss for your child and may be even willing to her a lesson or two. From here, you will be on your own. It will take a bit of practice to get the flossing process down pat, but if you give the child encourage everything will go much smoother.

Alter Your Child's Diet

Children are just like most adults, as they enjoy eating snacks and drinking sodas. These treats taste wonderful, but they are harmful to your teeth and gums. While it is okay to give your child a snack and soda from time to time, their intake should be limited. Canned sodas contain ingredients that are highly known for depleting the body's calcium levels. Calcium is described as the most abundant mineral in the human body, as it is a necessity for strong bones and teeth.

Children are introduced to calcium, while a fetus in utero. The mother is required to each a specific amount of foods rich in calcium, so their child will form strong bones and teeth as they grow.