You must be horrified to see cavities in your child’s new teeth, thinking about how painful it is for tiny teeth. Childhood is full of candy, toffee, and ice cream. Avoid feeding your little one sweets. It is a very difficult task to keep away. The famous saying ‘Prevention is better than cure’ It is better to take care of tooth decay in our children than to prevent it. Following are the steps given to maintain dental hygiene for children.
The first rule of dental hygiene for children: Daily brushing and flossing is very important.
Dental treatment of the child should be started at an early age. Brushing should be done as soon as the child’s first tooth appears and KVT should not be allowed to develop. Gums should also be cleaned regularly. Keep in mind that the child brushes his teeth every time after eating. Use a wet clean cloth to wipe the gums.
Teach your child to floss
Flossing can be difficult for a small child. Therefore, teach the child after he turns 5 years old. Till then, get your child to floss, and let him watch and learn. Flossing prevents teeth from staining. Flossing protects the enamel, which is a white layer found on top of the teeth, from wear and tear and also prevents bad breath. Make a C-shape of the floss near the curvature of the tooth. Move it up and down to remove the plaque. Use a different floss for each tooth to prevent plaque build-up.
let it be weird and fun
You can make brushing fun for your child by playing games and using colored toothpaste and brushes. Make brushing a voluntary activity and let it be enjoyed.
Brush more than once a day
Make it a habit to brush your child at least twice a day, especially before sleeping. Keep in mind that the child should not eat food after brushing at night. After brushing, make the child rinse thoroughly.
Use toothpaste containing fluoride
Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents cavities and tooth decay and other problems in your child. Dentists agree that it is safe.
General Tips
Use a soft bristle toothbrush that is attractive to the child. First start brushing with water and then apply toothpaste. If there is any problem in your children’s teeth, then consult a dentist and use a toothpaste containing fluoride.
For children below 2 years of age, the amount of toothpaste should be smaller than a pea. For children between 2 to 5 years, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Hold the toothbrush at 45 degrees to the gums and move it slowly back and forth for about 3 minutes. Brush the inside and outside surface of the teeth. Especially the front teeth. Brush your tongue separately to clean it of bacteria. Teach the child to rinse with water and spit out the toothpaste. Let the child watch and help him learn.