If you’re a parent you will likely understand the mammoth amounts of patience required when encouraging your kids to brush their teeth.  You cajole and wrestle your way around the bathroom until you’re exhausted.  It feels like nailing jelly to a wall, but you keep at it because you know it’s important.

Here are the 3 main areas to focus on that will help your kids form healthy dental habits.

1. Keep sugar frequency low

Every time we eat sugar, it reacts with the bacteria in plaque to create acid, which softens the enamel on our teeth.  So, lots of sugary snacks throughout the day will cause lots of acid attacks on the teeth,  increasing the risk of tooth decay.  The best way to reduce your children’s risk is to:

·         Reduce the number of snacks they have during the day – try to stick to 3 meals a day, plus a snack.  Sweet treats can be eaten immediately after a meal to reduce the number of acid attacks.

·         Avoid fizzy drinks which are not only high in sugar but also contain acid which can damage enamel.

·         Look for sugar-free snacks, like vegetables, fruit, or cheese.

·         Keep an eye out for hidden sugars, especially in yoghurts, sauces, and even some medicines.  Cough syrups and other and children’s painkillers can have sugar in them, but sugar-free alternatives are available.

2. Brush for 2 minutes, twice a day

As we already mentioned, bacteria in plaque can attack teeth given the right circumstances.  Plaque also irritates the gums, causing them to bleed when brushing, known as gum disease.  Thorough brushing twice a day will remove any daily build-up and help to keep teeth and gums healthy. Some useful things to remember are:

·         Choose the right size of toothbrush – kids brushes are designed for certain age groups, so pick the right one for your kiddiwink.

·         Use a fluoride toothpaste designed for your child’s age.  Babies and tots under 3 years only need a smear of paste on their brush, over 3’s can use a pea-sized amount.  From 6 years your little one can use adult toothpaste.

·         Supervise your child’s toothbrushing until they are at least 8 and help them reach all areas around their teeth and gums.

·         Spit, don’t rinse.   Rinsing after brushing washes away all the fluoride in the paste, so leave it be to do its work.

3. Make sure your kids see a dentist every six months

Prevention is the key, and regular visits to see us not only help nip any issues in the bud but also helps kids to build confidence when coming to the dentist.  If you are a patient at Paste, your children will benefit from free check-ups and treatment with us.

So, keep pestering your little rascals to take care of their pearly whites, they’ll give in eventually and good habits will start to form. 

Now, go make yourself a cuppa and put your feet up for 10 minutes – you deserve it!