Three Things Your Kids May Not Be Doing To Protect Their Teeth

By: Jeffery Williams, Guest Blogger from Oradyne

Almost 20% of kids have tooth decay before they can even spell the words “tooth decay”. That’s right, one fifth of children between the ages of four and five already have issues with their teeth. That certainly goes to show that it’s not an easy thing to do – getting your kids to take care of their teeth can actually be pretty hard.

The first step in solving problems though is to identify them in the first place. Below are three common areas where kids struggle with oral health.

Not Brushing Long Enough

Simply put, kids don’t brush their teeth for the recommended two minutes. To be honest, neither do adults. In fact studies show even those who think they’re brushing for that long probably aren’t. There are three easy ways to fix this though:

1. Get a toothbrush with a timer. That leaves no room for error – just have your child keep brushing until the darned thing vibrates. 
2. If that doesn’t work, simply get a stopwatch for them to use (or use an app on your phone).
3. Finally, in case they’re getting bored brushing their teeth (two minutes is a long time after all) play a favorite song or watch a video like Choosy Kids Brush My Smile until time is up.

Not Flossing

Only about half of adults in the US regularly floss, and those numbers are even worse for children. It’s not without reason though – finding four or five minutes to thoroughly floss your teeth amid the morning chaos is a tall order.

The easiest solution to this is to leverage technology to cut that flossing time out. Water flossers can speed up the process of flossing to only 60 seconds. Even better, there are several models out there that focus specifically on getting kids excited to use them. It’s amazing how far some bright colors and a few stickers can go!

If a water flosser is out of your budget, try getting your kids to dedicate one or two minutes of flossing instead of the full five. Even a shorter time can make a big difference. Teach your children how to floss their teeth with this fun playdough and Mega blocks method.

Chewing Gum

Back in my playground days, chewing gum was worth its weight in gold. Kids (and adults alike) can nearly get addicted to it. Unfortunately, most chewing gum is awful for your teeth.

The general rule of thumb is that every snack, drink or meal (including a stick of gum) can cause an acid attack on your teeth for up to twenty minutes. Several pieces of gum a day can literally ruin your kids’ teeth. If you can’t get your children to kick the habit, get them to try a sugar free or xylitol option.

Wrap Up

Keeping up your kid’s oral health can be pretty challenging. Keeping the suggestions mentioned here can ultimately make a big difference in your child’s oral health. What do you do to support healthy dental habits in children?

About the Author: Purveyor of clean teeth, healthy gums and super smiles, Jeffery Williams is a tried and true oral health expert. When he’s not researching and writing articles for his website, Oradyne.net, he’s out conquering the northern forests of Washington State with his wife Violet.  Download his free Oral Health e-book to change the way you care for your teeth and improve your smile for life. Follow Oradyne on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Brushing My Child’s Teeth: How Can I Help?

By: Amy Requa, MSN, CRNP

Did you know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month? It’s actually good timing, especially since children will be chowing down on their fair share of candy this weekend! The extra candy gives us an even better reason to think more about brushing teeth! Many parents of young children ask: “What is the best method for brushing my child’s teeth?” Well, often a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few photographs of different positions and methods that parents and caregivers can use to help young children with toothbrushing!  

Photos courtesy of Joanna Douglass, BDS, DDS

In the photo on the left, the adult sits in a chair while brushing the child’s teeth from behind. The child stands and leans back on the caregiver’s lap, using the adult’s legs for balance. See how the adult carefully stabilizes the child’s head, gently lifting or lightly pressing the lips away from the teeth with one hand, while brushing the teeth with the other? This actually makes it much easier for the adult to brush all surfaces of the teeth while the child still feels secure and won’t squirm away. Looking down at the child’s mouth from behind makes the child’s teeth more accessible to the brush, especially at the gum line where sticky plaque is most likely to build up in that space between the teeth and the gums. The plaque is the build up of sticky germs mixing with food/drink on all the surfaces of the teeth. Plaque eventually breaks down tooth enamel if it is allowed to stay on the teeth. The plaque on the surfaces of the teeth needs to be brushed away twice a day: in the morning and at night, right before your child goes to bed.

In the photo on the right, this toddler is allowed to stand up, probably on the couch, while the mom holds the child’s hands during brushing. After all, who says you have to brush your child’s teeth standing in front of the sink in the bathroom? You don’t! Use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste and your child does not need to spit it out, so you can brush your child’s teeth anywhere in your home, maybe when your child is sitting in her highchair, playing in the bathtub, or joining you on the couch. 

Here are the most current guidelines from the American Dental Association: 

• For children younger than 3 years, caregivers should begin brushing children’s teeth, with a soft child-sized toothbrush, as soon as teeth begin to come into the mouth. Use a fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. 
• Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. 
• For children 3 to 6 years of age, caregivers should apply no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to the soft toothbrush.  
• Adults should assist with toothbrushing until age 7 or 8.
• Replace toothbrushes when bristles appear worn (usually after 3-6 months)

How old were your children when you started to brush their teeth? Did they enjoy it? Have any tips to share on how you brushed their teeth?

References: 

Fluoride toothpaste efficacy and safety in children younger than 6 years: A systematic review. J. Timothy 
Wright, Nicholas Hanson, Helen Ristic, Clifford W. Whall, Cameron G. Estrich and Ronald R. Zentz, JADA 2014; 145(2):182-189. 

Fluoride Toothpaste Use for Young Children, American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, JADA 2014; 145(2):190-191. 

About the Author: Amy Requa, MSN, CRNP, CPNP-PC, is a board certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has 20 years of experience in public health nursing, maternal and child health, family and community health promotion and has extensive health expertise in oral health, childhood obesity prevention and child nutrition. Click here to learn more about Amy.