February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! All month long, dental professionals, healthcare providers, and educators will come together to promote the benefits of good oral health. Macaroni Kid Hendricks has partnered with Kid's Dentistree- Avon to provide great tips and resources throughout the month. Avon dentist Dr. Blair Bumgardner helps us kick things off with several great recommendations.
Dental health is so important at a young age. What basics do we need to be sure to include in my child's routine?
Teeth should be brushed twice daily for two minutes. Young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively so tandem brushing with a parent is necessary. As a general rule, elementary school aged children have enough dexterity to brush on their own. Establish a dental "home" no later than 12 months of age, and make sure your child is seen every 6 months for cleanings and to monitor their growth and development.
Children should use extra soft toothbrushes with the age appropriate sized toothbrush head. When purchasing a toothbrush, look at the age recommendations on the package. Replace a toothbrush once the bristles start to fray/flatten. This is typically every 6 months, but could be more frequent due to the type of child brusher.
With a parent's supervision, it is safe to use fluoridated toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts in the mouth. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste up until the age of 3 years old. Once children are 3 to 6 years old, then the amount should be increased to a pea-size dollop.
Mouth rinses are encouraged for children over the age of 6. Before giving your child mouthwash, have him/her practice rinsing with and spitting out the water first. Supervise his/hers first several uses of mouthwash to ensure that he’s not swallowing any of it.
What about flossing? When should parents help, and when can kids floss on their own?
Many children become ready to brush and floss their own teeth between age 6 and 9. However, it’s not strictly about age. Rather, there are certain skills that they need to develop in order to be independent brushers. Dexterity is needed for independent brushing. Little hands sometimes have a hard time wielding a toothbrush as effectively as an adult. When a child can tie their own laces, they are probably also dexterous enough to brush their teeth independently. Until then, the AAPD encourages tandem brushing and flossing with the parent.
My child fights their dental routine. How can we make it FUN?
What helps my office encourage children to get excited about dental hygiene is letting children pick out their toothbrush color and toothpaste flavor. I always encourage parents to let their children explore the dental aisle at your local supermarket and pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste.
There are also a number of great brushing apps for children! ‘Brush DJ’ plays two minutes of music shuffled from your iPad, iPod, or phone so kids can brush for the recommended amount of time to their favorite songs. ‘Brush Up’ is a game that allows you to use your phone camera as a mirror so kids can watch themselves brush. After brushing properly, kids can earn stars that they will spend on game prizes.
Disney, Crest, and Oral B have created ‘Disney Magic Timer’ in order to make brushing fun. As kids brush their teeth, hidden Disney and Marvel characters appear on the screen. Check out princesses, talking animals, fairies, mermaids, and cars. There are twenty-three characters in all.
For more great advice from Kid's Dentistree dentists, check out their blog!
