The Best Dental Care for Kids Happens At Home

At Dr. Eric Johnson's office, we believe that visits to the dentist are an important part of oral healthcare -- but they're clearly only one small part. Most oral health care happens at home, and it often starts with Mom.

Once your child turns six, it's time to switch to a fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoridated toothpastes go a long way toward preventing cavities, and at six, your child's body is developed enough that fluoride overdose isn't a significant danger. (That said, if you know you have fluoridated water and your child drinks it regularly, you might want to be careful to use small amounts of toothpaste -- it doesn't take much to take effect.)

Proper Nutrition
Between the ages of three and thirty, kids have a tendency to be very vulnerable to the allure of sugar and other highly-processed carbohydrate-laden foods. Candy, muffins, anything made by Hostess or Little Debbie -- you know the stuff. No one is saying they shouldn't enjoy a treat, but part of your responsibility as a parent is making sure that they don't eat too much of the stuff, or too regularly.

From just a dentist's perspective, sugary and floury foods like that are profoundly detrimental to your kid's oral health. Sugars that sit in the mouth encourage bacteria to reproduce exponentially, which in turn leads to plaque, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. (Other health professionals can give you plenty of other reasons to avoid these foods as well).

For best oral health, make certain your child eats at least three different colors of fruit and/or vegetable every day, and not the same three colors day after day. This simple rule will go a long way toward making sure your kid gets a broad spectrum of nutrients, all of which affect his/her oral health directly or indirectly.

Adding To the Routine
As your child grows, you can add a few new elements to their dental routine. At six, add mouthwash. Go straight for the good stuff -- Crest Pro Health which is a great mouth rinse without the alcohol and it won't dry your mouth. Listerine is a classic but it is too strong. As soon as your child starts losing his/her baby teeth, teach them how to floss and enforce flossing each night before bedtime. This will get them well into the habit by the time their adult molars start coming in.

Being a mom is certainly unending hard work -- and taking care of your child's oral health is just one part of the job. But making it part of your daily routine is the key to getting it all under control.