Caring for teeth starts as a kid and it is widely considered a full-time job that lasts a lifetime. It is an important aspect for any person. As a parent, you would want your child to have the best in terms of protecting their teeth. While this is a long and tedious process, there are tools recommended by pediatric dentist that can make the job a lot easier.

Toothbrush

The most well-known tool for dental cleaning is of course, the toothbrush. While it may seem like a simple tool, there’s a bit more to it. It is often overlooked but it is important to choose the right toothbrush for children says pediatric dentist. 

There are several different variations of toothbrushes to cater to different people. They take into consideration factors such as tooth sensitivity and age which are important factors to consider when choosing a brush for your child. 

Basically it is recommended that you choose a brush with a head that can easily fit in your child’s mouth. It should be small enough for proper maneuvering and they do not have to struggle to reach all teeth. At the same time, the handle should have a proper grip so they can control it well. And of course, choose a brush with bristles soft enough to not cause pain.

And lastly, pediatric dentists recommends to replace toothbrush every 6 months. It is easy to remember this by replacing the toothbrush every time you visit the pediatric dental clinic which is ideally twice a year. But if they get the cold or flu, you should replace the brush immediately.

Toothpaste

The partner of the brush is the toothpaste. For more than 50 years now, the American Dental Association along with pediatric dentist have been advocating the use of toothpaste that contains fluoride. This is because fluoride based toothpaste is excellent in cleaning teeth and preventing cavities.

When using this type of toothpaste though, make sure to properly teach your child to rinse the mouth thoroughly after brushing and spitting it all out. 

When looking for toothpaste, try to avoid abrasives. Also, try to check the packaging if it has the American Dental Association or ADA seal of approval. This seal means that the product has met all the safety and efficiency standards and contains the right amount of ingredients. 

Dental Floss

Pediatric dentist strongly recommends flossing as well. This is because brushing can only clean about a third of the teeth’s surface area, the rest are only reachable by using floss. 

Kids should floss their teeth once per day. They should learn to target the spaces between the teeth when they do so because these are the areas that a toothbrush cannot reach. 

For very young children, they can use a flat dental tape instead which can be used as a beginner’s floss. A set of floss picks can also be useful for children as well so they can learn how to use it easily.

Water

Saliva is the body’s natural way to remove food and other debris in the mouth as well as maintaining a healthy Ph level which is important for strong teeth. And since saliva is mostly composed of water, pediatric dentist recommends that kids drink a lot of water so they have enough saliva.

At the same time, water is a great way to help clean teeth as well. By drinking healthy amounts, it can wash away food debris and clean teeth, thus helping prevent tooth decay.

While all of these tools can go a long way in keeping a child’s teeth clean and healthy, it is also important for parents to teach their kids how to use them properly. It is up to the parents to guide them to learn and practice proper dental hygiene. And of course, they should make it a habit to visit their pediatric dentist at least twice a year for general check ups and cleaning to ensure that kids grow up with healthy, strong teeth.