While you’re busy packing school lunches and making sure homework gets done, make sure your kids get their teeth checked, too. Young teeth can still get cavities, and they often go overlooked. Make sure you visit District Dental Solutions in Washington, DC to set your kids up for a cavity-free school year.
HOW TO PREVENT CAVITIES IN CHILDREN
Cavities aren’t limited to only adult teeth — kids’ baby teeth can still get cavities, so it’s important to get them checked out regularly to make sure they’re healthy. When adult teeth come in as baby teeth come out, remind kids that adult teeth have to last the rest of their lives, and they have to take good care of them.
Did you know that over half of American children already have at least one cavity by the age of nine? You can help your child avoid this statistic by encouraging them to follow the 2 X 2 rule: brush twice a day for two minutes. Kids also need to floss regularly to keep plaque from building up between teeth.
THE 2 X 2 RULE
Making the 2 X 2 rule part of kids’ morning and nighttime routines will set them up for long-term habits. Try setting a good example by brushing your teeth with them, using a timer, or even a fun toothpaste they like. Nowadays, there are plenty of great children’s toothpaste options available in stores, and toothbrush timers are usually stocked nearby.
Two minutes might seem like an eternity to kids, but it really does make a huge difference in the long haul. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, so keeping enamel healthy from a young age will help your child avoid cavities or even more complex dental problems.
Speaking of prevention, another tool in the fight against tooth decay is limiting sugar intake. While there are many reasons to limit sugar, oral bacteria feed on the sugar in our mouths. Well-fed bacteria leads to plaque buildup and enamel breakdown, so keeping bacteria at bay before they cause cavities is critical to your child’s oral health.
So while it may not seem like much, tooth brushing and regular dental check-ups are an important part of making sure your child is healthy and growing. To promote good oral health, make sure you schedule a dental check-up this fall!
