At Utah Orthodontic Care, our team of experienced orthodontic providers believes in the necessity of excellent dental hygiene. We want all of our patients to practice good oral hygiene through consistent and effective brushing and flossing, but especially children. If a child is taught, at an early age, the importance of dental hygiene, they will experience a life of good dental and orthodontic health. As parents, we can take many steps to promote and encourage good dental hygiene with our kids. Our Salt Lake City orthodontic providers suggest the following five habits to teach your children about dental hygiene.
Effective Brushing Twice A Day
Effective teeth brushing is essential for good dental hygiene. From the time your little one starts to grow baby teeth, you should be brushing them. Even at an early age, their small teeth are prone to cavities, just like adult teeth. As your child grows older, you can assist them ineffective teeth brushing in the morning and at night before they go to bed. Eventually, they will be able to brush on their own with parents supervision. It is imperative to brush twice daily and ensure that the child is getting all the “hard to reach” places. As a parent, you can stress the importance of teeth brushing and make it a fun twice daily activity for you and your child. This will encourage them to brush.
Floss, Floss, Floss
Flossing is just as important as brushing is, even for kids. You can teach your children about the difference between brushing and flossing. Brushing is good for the surfaces of your teeth, but flossing gets in between the teeth to prevent decay and bacteria build up. At Utah Orthodontic Care, we understand flossing can be difficult and not the most exciting activity. That being said, we recommend making it a family activity, a competition to floss the most per week or something to make flossing more exciting! This will encourage your little ones to floss and be accustomed to flossing throughout their lives.
Eat Healthily – Skip The Sugary Foods
Eating healthy is an important part of dental hygiene. What we eat directly affects our risk of cavities. As parents, we need to promote healthy eating and be an example for our children. Kids should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and grains. They should avoid processed foods and sugared foods. Sugars are found in many kid-favorite foods like fruit gummies, candies, desserts, and many kinds of cereal. Utah Orthodontic Care recommends keeping sugar consumption low to avoid cavities. This will help your child’s long-term dental hygiene.
Water Is the Best Drink Around!
For adults and kids, water really is the best drink for your teeth. Our orthodontic providers want you to completely avoid sodas and sugary juices. These drinks will put your children at very high risk of cavities. We want to eliminate this risk. Our Salt Lake City orthodontic providers recommend water or natural juices with no added sugars.
Regular Check-Ups
To ensure your child’s teeth are clean and in good shape, teach them the importance of regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Even though we do our best to brush and floss effectively, cavities and decay can occur. By continually seeing the dentist for a cleaning every six months, we can confirm your dental hygiene is up to speed! Regular dental cleanings can ensure your teeth do not have plaque or bacteria build up and that you are brushing effectively. Utah Orthodontic Care in Salt Lake City recommends seeing the dentist every six months!
Schedule Your Next Appointment With Utah Orthodontic Care!
Our orthodontic providers are confident that with our dental hygiene tips, you can teach your kids the best dental hygiene practices to ensure a strong foundation for a lifetime of clean, healthy teeth. If you have any questions or concerns about dental hygiene for yourself or your children, please consult our team of experienced orthodontic providers. We will be more than happy to assist you. To schedule your next appointment with Utah Orthodontic Care, call or visit one of our offices throughout the Salt Lake City area. We look forward to hearing from you!
