Preventive dental care is important throughout life, especially at a young age. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and scheduling regular checkups with the dentist, you will help your child establish good habits and ensure that they have a beautiful smile for life. Here are a few simple ways to prevent the build-up of plaque and the formation of cavities:
- Make sure your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day, for two minutes, with a soft-bristled toothbrush. We recommend that a parent helps brush at least until your child can tie their own shoes. We recommend that your young child uses a rice grain size amount of fluoride toothpaste until they are able to spit. Once your child can spit, they should use a pea size amount.
- Make sure your child cleans between the teeth by flossing at least once a day. Bacteria that cause decay cannot be removed from between the teeth with tooth brushing alone. Most children do not have the dexterity to floss their own teeth so we recommend that the parent flosses for them with floss sticks. You can also use fluoride containing mouth wash to help kill bacteria and increase enamel strength as long as your child is able to spit it out (do not use this if your child is unable to spit).