Candy, or sugar for that matter, is a treat. A Treat that keeps on giving… In the form of cavities. Yet you still think they’re young… he/she are going to lose those teeth anyways.
But, it’s time to put your child’s oral health in the forefront. Your health is directly correlated to your oral health. So let’s start them off on the right path. That’s why we’re going back to the basics.
We call this the “Three Things” talk. We consider it our priority to provide every parent and member of our community with simple tips to establish good home care habits for kids to ensure their future and cavity prevention is very important for a lifetime of oral health and happiness.
3 Things to Cavity-Proof Your Child’s Mouth:
1. Help your child with brushing and flossing. Assist your children with brushing and flossing rituals at least until the third grade. This is when children are developing their fine motor skills and are capable of adopting this responsibility on their own.
2. Ensure your child is getting enough fluoride. Fluoride works both topically and systemically to make tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. Topical fluoride soaks into the very outer layer of the teeth (from toothpaste or mouthwash) while systemic fluoride works on developing teeth and is incorporated into the entire thickness of the tooth (from drinking water treated with fluoride). Systemic fluoride is most beneficial for developing teeth.
3. Ensure your child is brushing after frequent snacks or meals. Eating habits are crucial to reducing your child’s cavity risk. We are less concerned about what your child eats and more concerned with how often your child is eating. Snackers and grazers are at a greater risk of cavities than those who eat at designated feeding times. The more frequent the snack, the more acid attack the mouth experiences! Brush often to decrease the bacteria growth caused by the breakdown of sugars.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at (541) 389-3073 or reach us online here.. Also don’t forget to follow our Facebook page for additional pediatric oral health tips. Gentle care for the littlest mouths is our business!
