Oral hygiene for kids

Oral hygiene is very critical habit to be effectively included in your child’s daily routine. Here are some great tips of Oral hygiene for kids:

Oral hygiene for kids

What is the first thing in the morning that you do? Brush your teeth (we are sure). What about your children? Later in the day, do you find yourself covering your nose up because of foul breath? Apart from maintaining a personal care regime for kids one also needs to maintain good oral hygiene. Here is how.

For Babies, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

1. After each feeding, clean the baby’s gums with a clean wet gauze pad or washcloth.
2. When teeth start to appear, brush them with a child’s size toothbrush and plain water.  At the direction of your dentist, some children under two may benefit from the use of fluoride toothpaste.
3. Begin flossing when at least two teeth begin to touch.
4. Start dental visits by the child’s first birthday. Make visits regularly. If you think your child has dental problems, take the child to the dentist as soon as possible.
5. Brush teeth of children over age two with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and make sure to floss daily.
6. Children should be supervised while brushing to keep them from swallowing the toothpaste.

For School-Age Children and Adolescents

1. Until they are six or seven years old, continue to brush your children’s teeth twice a day with a child’s size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Continue to assist with flossing as needed.
2. By age six or seven, children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day but often require supervision until about age 10 or 11, to make sure they are doing a thorough job. Since each child is different, your dentist can help you determine whether your child is brushing and flossing properly.
3. Visit your dentist regularly.
4. Ask the dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.