4 Ways To Ensure Your Child's Teeth Are Better Protected From Cavities
If your child has already had his or her first cavity, you may be concerned that your little one's teeth will incur further decay. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to help ensure that your child's teeth are better protected in the future. Here are a few of them:
Give your child gum that is sweetened with xylitol.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that has antibacterial properties. The sweetener, when paired with the other decay-fighting attributes of chewing gum, can help protect your child's teeth.
Gum can remove particles of food that have become stuck to the teeth. Additionally, it helps promote the production of saliva to rinse the mouth and dilute oral acids.
Watch your child brush.
Instead of assuming that your child is brushing his or her teeth properly, observe the little one's brushing sessions. As you watch your child brush, you can determine whether or not the youngster is brushing correctly. You can help your child improve his or her brushing techniques by encouraging small, circular strokes.
It can also be helpful to time the brushing sessions. Your child should be brushing for at least two minutes, but he or she may not understand how long two minutes are or be too young to understand the concept of time. By using a kitchen timer or a cell phone, you can increase your child's awareness of how long the duration of the brushing sessions should be.
Don't make your child brush with your toothpaste.
The flavor of an adult toothpaste can be too intense for your little one. Instead of choosing an adult paste, offer your child a mildly flavored toothpaste for kids. Your youngster is more likely to brush longer if his or her mouth is not on fire.
Some children's toothpastes are fluoride-free. Thus, they are also important for youngsters who have not learned to avoid swallowing while brushing.
Have your child rinse his or her mouth with water after eating.
Take along a bottle of water during excursions away from home. After your child eats a meal or snack, have the little one rinse his or her mouth with the water. The water can help dislodge leftover food and dilute oral acid that could cause tooth decay. Additionally, if you use fluoridated water, it can help your child's teeth resist damage from acid.
To learn more ways to protect your child's teeth, schedule an appointment with a children's dentist in your area.
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