It’s late, and you have had a busy day filled with work, school dropoffs and pick-ups, dinner prep, and a soccer game. It’s finally time to relax, but wait! You still have to get those kids ready for bed. You wrestle them into their pajamas and think you are at the finish line when you realize, sadly, that you still need to brush and floss.
As a father of four daughters, ranging from kindergarten at Sycamore Springs Elementary up to Dripping Springs High School, I’ve been there. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. It’s like the movie Groundhog Day, where every time you finish and finally get a break, you wake up and have to do it all over again.
As a pediatric dentist, I’ll try to share some tips on how to make caring for your little ones’ teeth as easy as possible, working toward getting them self-sufficient so you can get a break!
START EARLY TO SET GOOD HABITS
As soon as you see some teeth in that little mouth, get a toothbrush in there to start setting good habits. We want our little ones to know that a toothbrush isn’t scary. As your child grows and enters the toddler years, routines become a life saver. When you do something with regularity, your child will come to expect it. This is the time to teach that we brush our teeth morning and night. It may not be perfect, but consistency is more important than perfection.
TIMING IS KEY
Did you know that when you eat food, it takes your mouth about 20 minutes to clean itself and eliminate the acids that break down the enamel? Every time you take another bite, that timer resets. Even if kids aren’t eating foods that are bad for their teeth, constant snacking puts them at risk for cavities. It is better to get through the snack and have a longer break before the next one.
STICKY IS TRICKY
Watch out for sticky foods! Since each bite resets that 20-minute timer, something stuck in your teeth won’t even allow that timer to start until it is off your teeth. We know that treats like gummy bears and fruit snacks aren’t great for teeth, but watch out for things like dried mango or raisins as well. And that brings me to my next point: Drink more water! It speeds up the 20-minute cleansing process. In addition to being good for the teeth, water is good for your body.
FLOSS LIKE A BOSS, AND PICK YOUR BATTLES
In your little one, most cavities happen between the molars. If you are being honest and know you can’t get through flossing the whole mouth, the back teeth are where you should start. I want you to floss everywhere, but if you only get to some, head straight for the back.
GO TO THE DENTIST
The earlier you start this, the easier it is. When I have seen a child every six months since they were 1 or 2 years old, by the time they are 6, they love the dentist and know it is a safe place that can even be fun. While I hope there never is a cavity, if there is one, the earlier it’s caught the easier the fix will be.
So the next time you are getting home from a never-ending day of crazy, don’t forget to get those teeth ready for bed. Hopefully you started early and set good habits so your kids know what is coming and they don’t put up much of a fight. Those teeth are worth it!
MyAustinPediatricDentist.com | @centralparkpeddentistry