Prior to taking children in for check-ups with dentists and orthodontists, Ottawa parents can greatly improve children’s dental health by encouraging good habits in the home. This is a challenge for many parents, particularly when kids don’t take to it very well. But it’s important to remember that dental care is an essential aspect of health, so this is one area where parents can do their children a favor by being strict.
While it’s important for kids to have frequent appointments with dentists and orthodontists, Ottawa parents should keep in mind that the everyday habits performed in the home are the most important part of dental care. Here are a few ways in which parents can teach their kids good habits.
1. Frequent brushing: For adults, it can be hard to remember what it was like to be a young child learning to brush for the first time. To us, brushing seems so simple; but in fact, there are good methods and bad methods, and developing good habits early is essential for one’s lifelong dental health. Here are some things to keep in mind.
- Brush all surfaces—both inside and outside, as well as the chewing surfaces of the molars.
- Keep the brush at a 45 degree angle in relation to the plane of the teeth.
- Brush two or three times a day, and do it each time for at least two minutes. To get the timing right, consider using a stopwatch.
- Don’t neglect the roof of the mouth and the tongue. Bacteria can gather on these surfaces, and a quick once-over with your toothbrush can make things much cleaner.
- Be gentle. Brushing too hard can cause problems such as gum recession and tooth sensitivity.
2. Floss daily: Flossing should be done at least once every day, although twice is ideal. Dentists and orthodontists (Ottawa and everywhere else) commonly note that it’s never too early to begin flossing. Although many people assume that it’s more difficult than brushing, it’s actually quite easy once you get into the habit. Simply draw the floss between two teeth, and scrape it against the edge of each side.
3. Cut sugar and starch: Sugar and starch are among the most damaging ingredients for dental health. If you’re a parent of young kids, try to find ways to reduce their sugar intake. Sugary sodas and other sweet beverages with no nutritional value should be cut out as much as possible, as should sweet between-meal snacks. For occasions when dessert is absolutely essential, have it immediately after the meal, and brush right afterward. As studies have shown, sweets and starches that are consumed during mealtime stick around in the mouth for much shorter times.
4. Start getting check-ups early: Most dentists say that children should begin getting check-ups when their first baby teeth start coming in. From that point, every 6 months is optimal. Even if there is no obvious problem with a child’s dental health, dental and orthodontic care are based upon prevention, so it’s important to give your doctors a chance to catch problems before they become visible. If you don’t know any area dentists or orthodontists, Ottawa has resources you can use. Do a Google search for “Orthodontists Ottawa” or find a practitioner through the Orthodontists Ottawa page on the website of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics.
