Fun Ways to Help Kids Prevent Cavities!
Tired of having to fight your kids morning and night when it comes to tooth care? There’s just no need to wade through bedtime battles about tooth brushing. If you want to prevent cavities in children, today is the perfect time to start teaching them all about the benefits of healthy teeth and gums.
How to prevent cavities in children’s teeth
For many, party season and special occasions (and even afternoon tea) can be a time of excess. Lollies, cakes, candies, sweeties, candy canes, bon bons, cupcakes, sugary drinks… the list goes on! It can certainly be sugar overload for children – which is why the time is right for some positive messages about how great dental hygiene can prevent cavities.
If you like, you can even get some family favourites involved!
The best way to brush tiny teeth
The Raising Children Network has some excellent resources for parents when it comes to dental hygiene. Here’s their advice on working with your child, not against them, at tooth brushing time.
- Make sure your child feels secure and happy. Brushing in front of a mirror is a great way to involve them in the process. You should be sitting behind them so they can see themselves.
- Take your child’s chin in your hands and lean their head back so it’s against your body.
- Make sure the bristles of the brush are angled TOWARDS the gum. Using gentle circles, clean the inner and outer sides of the teeth and gums.
- Go back and forth on the ‘chewing surfaces’ as well as the front and back of the teeth.
- Brush the tongue! (It might tickle, which is great! Try everything you can to make this process fun).
- Spit that toothpaste into the sink! Not rinsing is key – the leftover toothpaste will continue to protect your child’s teeth.
- You MUST encourage and support the importance of flossing in your home (and make sure you lead by example as well). Cleaning between the teeth is as importance as brushing. 75% of all cavities start between the teeth for children under the age of 8. Model this practice for your children and make it as fun (and as regular) as you can.
Brush your teeth with The Wiggles!
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Everyone’s favourite kids’ entertainers, The Wiggles, have produced a great teeth brushing song that’s perfect for getting little bodies excited about the process. The song is long enough to ensure that teeth and gums are appropriately cleaned, and it’s catchy enough to get them bopping back for more again and again.
<h2>Key ways to prevent cavities</h2>
Now that you’ve got the fun side of teeth brushing sorted out, here are a few final tips on preventing cavities.
- Work closely with a gentle dentist and have regular check ups
- Ask children to make healthy choices for their drinks – water and milk are great
- Encourage dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt) in your child’s diet to promote healthy teeth and gums
- Make tooth care fun! Floss with your kids and have fun when you brush!