Twittermoms and Trident have teamed up and asked us to share five simple things you can do for your child to keep their smiles healthy and bright. I’ve received some conflicting information on when is the right time to take your children to the dentist. Our pediatrician basically says when they have teeth. However, our dentist said they don’t normally see patients until they are three years of age unless there are concerns, stating that really all they do is get them comfortable with the visit and teach the kids (and their parents) proper brushing techniques. Since we received that information and our dental insurance doesn’t cover kids until 3 years of age, we have chosen to wait. Smiles are so important to me nonetheless, so here are the things we do for our children:
1. Brush their teeth at least twice per day as recommended by dentists. Our kids are little so we use training toothpaste. We actually keep their toothbrushes and toothpaste in the kitchen and brush there after breakfast and before bed. Seems a little strange but there is just more room and it helps us remember. Not that our kids will let us forget- they love brushing their teeth! Even our one year old reminds us “teeth, teeth!” if we forget.
2. Visit the dentist 2 times per year once they reach the age advised. I will always diligent about myself and my kids visiting the dentist because this is how I myself was raised.
3. When the children are babies, wipe their gums and baby teeth to get them started early. Milk can be harmful sitting on their teeth and this is also a great learning tool. I just use a wash cloth most of the time but there are products made specifically for this called Spiffies which work great!
4. Floss their teeth. Plaque can live in between teeth and this is a good habit to get into as hard as it may be with little ones. This is one we could use a little more practice with ourselves.
5. Don’t drink caffeinated beverages or eat too many sugary foods. This can lower the enamel on teeth plus it’s better to make healthier choices. Carrots are a great snack and milk is much better for teeth than juice.
What do you do to help your children keep a healthy smile? Leave a comment if you have a tip!
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”