National Children’s Dental Health Month is celebrated throughout February. The American dental association sponsors this month to give healthcare professionals, especially pediatric dentists from all over the globe, learning resources that bring awareness to children and their parents about proper dental and oral health.
As pediatric dentists in Fort McMurray, we are here to give you and your little ones three tips for taking care of your children’s teeth.
How do I Brush My Child’s Teeth?
When it comes to brushing your child’s teeth, our pediatric dentists in Fort McMurray will suggest the following:
- Laying your baby on their back in a comfortable position, you can easily see inside their mouth.
- Avoid using toothpaste on your young ones until their teeth develop.
- Holding their head at a 45-degree angle makes it easy to aim where the gums meet teeth to clean in soft circles.
- Avoid fluoride on your child at this age if there are no signs of decay. It is best to use only water at a young age.
- A pea-sized portion of fluoride toothpaste should be utilized if you have a child 3-6 years old.
- As a parent, please ensure your child spits out all the toothpaste from their mouth and gives a good rinse.
If your child is three years old or younger, it is a good idea to see a pediatric dentist in Fort McMurray to see if there is tooth decay or risk of this kind with your child form.
How do I Floss My Child’s Teeth?
To floss your child’s teeth, you should wrap a length of floss that measures the size of your child’s arm around each of your middle fingers. Make sure you leave 2 inches between your hands and use your index finger to guide the floss in a C shape around the base of the tooth where it attaches to the gums.
Continue this process, wiping your child’s tooth from bottom to top 2-3 times or more until their teeth are clean. Remember to floss the backs of the last molars and use a new portion as you move from tooth to tooth.
Teaching Your Children Proper Dental Habits
Children must brush their teeth before bedtime because they do not produce as much saliva as adults while asleep, and saliva keeps our mouths clean. Teaching your children good oral habits like brushing and flossing early on is essential.
Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month by booking an appointment with one of our pediatric dentists in Fort McMurray today. We are accepting new patients and are open evenings and weekends!
