3 Mistakes Parents Make With Their Children's Oral Health
Adults and children alike should go to the dentist every six months to have a checkup and get their teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, many put off going to the dentist out of fear or simply because they don't think they need to. However, there are things you might not realize that you are doing that could end up damaging your teeth between those visits. This is why it is important to get a checkup and make sure your teeth are still healthy and your gums aren't receding. To make sure your little one grows up to have a happy and healthy smile, avoid making one of these mistakes at home.
Using the wrong brushing technique.
While many people think you should brush left to right and up and down, that isn't the case. All of that vigorous brushing and excessive scrubbing is actually going to end up causing your gums to recede. The best thing you can do is to brush in a circular motion. Slant the head of your toothbrush just slightly toward your gums. Make sure to start in the same spot each time to keep track of where you are and what teeth are left to be brushed.
Giving children milk and juice before they go to bed.
Children should never have milk, juice or any other sugary drink before heading to bed. The last thing in their mouth should be toothpaste or water. Otherwise, you are contributing to decay and cavities. If your little one does have anything with sugar, they need to brush their teeth before going to bed.
Allowing your child to rinse their mouth after brushing.
Many adults were taught to believe that you need to rinse your mouth out after brushing your teeth. That isn't the case. In doing so, you are actually taking the fluoride properties in the toothpaste that protect against cavities away and making your child's teeth more prone to cavities and other problems. When children are done brushing their teeth, they should allow whatever remains to sit. The only thing they should be doing is spitting the excess toothpaste out. Not adding in water or anything else that is going to override what the toothpaste is trying to do.
By not making one of the mistakes above, you can make sure your children have a healthy start and a positive attitude about going to the pediatric dentist for years to come.
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