Teeth need to be cared for, even baby teeth. Here are some tips and tricks on how to properly take care of your little one’s teeth:
- Make sure they brush their teeth twice per day – once in the morning and once at night, before going to bed. This should be enough to help prevent plaque and tooth decay.
- Children should use a small, soft toothbrush to brush their teeth. Children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years only need a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) and children 3 years and older should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- Your child should angle their toothbrush at 45 degrees. This means that the toothbrush should face towards the gums of their upper and lower teeth. Using small circular motions (about the size of one tooth), they should brush all the sides of the teeth and their gums.
- Remind your child to gently brush their tongue as this will help get rid of bacteria in the mouth.
- Once your child has finished brushing their teeth, they should spit out any extra toothpaste, rinse their mouth and toothbrush with clean water and put their toothbrush somewhere clean to dry.
- Two minutes can be a very long time when you have to brush your teeth! If your child struggles with brushing their teeth for two minutes, turn it into a game where you listen to your favourite 2-minute song or set a timer on your phone.
- Properly flossing their teeth and going to the dentist at least twice a year is one of the best ways to help prevent cavities and tooth decay.
- Avoid sugary drinks between meals, but if your child wants to snack, try going for non-sugary foods like popcorn, raw vegetables, or cheese. They can also rinse their mouth with water after meals/snacks to help keep their teeth in top-notch condition.
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