More than half a billion children worldwide have dental caries in their milk teeth.
Unfortunately, decay in primary teeth can result in pain and infections. From there, such problems can cause difficulties in eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Indeed, studies found that kids with poor oral health have poor academic performance.
That’s why it’s vital to establish the best oral hygiene routine for your child as early as possible.
To create an ideal routine, though, it pays to know which dental hygiene mistakes to avoid. We listed some of the top ones below, so be sure to read on.
1. Forgetting to Floss
A previous study found a link between flossing and a reduced risk of decay in primary teeth. For that reason, researchers continue to encourage the use of dental floss in kids.
Flossing, after all, aids in the removal of food debris and plaque between the teeth. Unremoved plaque, in turn, is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in both children and adults.
That’s why it pays to floss daily, or even twice a day if possible.
It may also be wise to have your little ones floss before they brush. There’s evidence that doing so removes more plaque between the teeth.
2. Brushing for Less Than Two Minutes
Most oral health experts recommend two minutes as the ideal length of brushing time. One reason is that it helps remove enough food debris and plaque from the mouth.
However, researchers estimate that the average brushing time is only 45 seconds. That’s not enough to reduce plaque formations on and between the teeth.
For that reason, it’s best for you and your little one to always aim for the 120-second mark. To help make it more fun, try brushing together while playing a two-minute song your child likes.
3. Forgetting the Importance of Regular Dental Checkups
Even proper flossing and brushing habits don’t eliminate all plaque. Over time, those left-over layers of sticky biofilm can then harden into tartar.
Tartar, being crusty and hard, adheres to the surfaces of the teeth. That’s why flossing and brushing alone can no longer remove such formations.
What’s more, having tartar makes it more difficult to remove new plaque formations. In addition, it discolors the teeth, irritates the gum, and promotes tooth decay.
All those are good enough reasons to bring your child in for regular dental checkups.
Just be sure to take your little one to a pediatric dentist, though. Such experts specialize in children’s dentistry, making them the best dentist for kids.
Ideally, your little one should see a pediatric dentist at least once or twice every year. That way, the dentist can better monitor developments in your child’s mouth. In addition, it can help the doctor detect (and treat) problems like cavities sooner.
Help Your Child Build a Proper Oral Hygiene Routine
Keep in mind that kids with poor dental health tend to develop oral function limitations. They’re also at a higher risk of experiencing emotional stress.
That’s why it’s best to instill the importance of having a proper oral hygiene routine in your little one. That includes making sure you and your child avoid the mistakes we’ve discussed in this guide.
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