Teaching kids the appropriate means to teeth brushing is really essential for ensuring and developing good kids dental health. Many individuals think brushing their kids teeth is easy to do, however there are a few things parents need to do when enlightening their youngsters about taking care of their teeth. When you begin teaching your kids with brushing their teeth early, they will hopefully get in the habit and helps increase the possibility of strong, healthy and balanced teeth.  Making sure you visit a pediatric dentist when they are young is very important

To begin with, excite upon your kids why the need to brush their teeth a minimum 2 times a day. Something that you can do as a parent is to brush your teeth while they are brushing their teeth, so they comprehend that it is a needed part of maintaining healthy teeth. Kids often tend to look to their mom and dad for life examples.  When they see you brushing your teeth every morning and night, they will do what you do.  Communication is a big part of the teeth brushing process.  It is a good idea to talk to them and tell them why you are brushing and how it actually feels good when your done.

Did you know that nearly all adults (about 92 percent of them) ages 20 to 64 have cavities? That’s an alarming number! What you eat really does matter for many reasons, especially for your teeth. We all know by now that sugar is bad for your teeth and promotes tooth decay, but there are other foods that promote tooth decay. These might surprise you. Let’s take a look!

Sugar

Sugary candies are not great for your teeth. They coat your teeth in sugar and unless you brush it away, your teeth are literally swimming in it all day. The same goes for soda. A can of soda has an alarming amount of sugar in it. By drinking it, you are doing the same thing—coating your teeth in it. When sugar stays on your teeth for long periods of time, bacteria use the sugar as fuel. As the bacteria burn the sugar, they produce acids that wear away your tooth enamel, and the bacteria also form hardened plaque over time. Additionally, sodas, even diet sodas are acidic, and that acid also wears away your enamel. Dentists advise that if you have to have a soda, drink water afterwards to help rinse your teeth and mouth. The same is true of sports drinks. These beverages might sound healthy but they too have lots of sugars.

Sticky Foods

Some sticky foods like dried fruits are healthy, but they can wreak havoc on your teeth. All fruit has sugar, even when dried. Stickier fruits like apricots and dates can stay on your teeth and cause the same damage that sugar can. If you eat these foods, rinse or brush after your snack, and don’t forget to floss!

Crunchy foods

How can crunchy foods harm your teeth? They might seem fairly safe to eat, but crunchy foods do create some issues. For example, potato or tortilla chips are pure carbs which means they are filled with starch. When you eat chips, the saliva and chip mixture creates a starchy coating for your teeth. Again, they’re okay to enjoy, just rinse and brush afterwards.

Citrus
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Acids erode enamel and citrus fruits and drinks like lemonade can do damage over time. Enamel begins to erode and over time the erosion makes teeth more susceptible to decay. Rather than drinking straight lemonade or grapefruit juice, try water with a squeeze of lemon. You get that lemony goodness, but it’s mostly water you’re drinking, which is far better for your teeth in the long run.

For years dental professionals and pediatricians recommended young children brush with a toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.  These toothpastes are frequently called "Training Toothpastes," as parents and healthcare professionals were concerned with the potentially harmful side effects of a child ingesting too much fluoride if they are unable to spit.  In the last several years, pediatric dentists have noticed an alarming trend in early childhood decay.  This type of decay is particularly aggressive.  Young children who experience early decay are frequently incapable of cooperating for treatment in the dental office, and therefore they require more aggressive and advanced techniques for managing behavior such as conscious sedation and even general anesthesia.  For this reason, our office follows the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD.)  Essentially, a fluoridated toothpaste is recommended from the time an infant gets their first tooth (around 6-7 months of age.)  We recommend infants have their teeth brushed with a tiny "smear" of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice.  As the child matures into toddler-hood and beyond, this size is gradually increased to the size of a pea.  With these recommended levels of toothpaste and fluoride, your child will experience the benefits of fluoride without any increased risk of any potentially harmful side effects.  Cool Mountain Kids is the best kids dentist office in Colorado Springs. Visit us to read our blog for tips and information on child dental health. Visit the site below for additional information from the AAPD about this topic!