Top Dental Tips From Philadelphia Pediatric Dentistry

Keeping up with good dental health practices is key for both children and adults. However, by instilling good dental hygiene from a young age, you can improve one’s dental health tremendously. Here are some of the best dental tips from Philadelphia Pediatric and Adhesive Dentistry or Dental Bonding specialist.

Best Dental Tips From Philadelphia Pediatric Dentistry:

1. Get Routine Checkups

What’s more important than anything is getting routine checkups. You want to ensure you are scheduling routine checkups because a dental professional will be able to look at your child’s teeth to see whether or not any issues need to be immediately addressed. A routine checkup can be a great way to prevent a lot of dental problems from developing. Try to schedule a checkup at least once every six months.

2. Clean Teeth and Gums Daily

Everyone should be brushing and flossing twice per day at a minimum. You need to brush your teeth in the morning and at night. Children should be using child-friendly fluoride toothpaste. It’s important to monitor them so they don’t swallow the toothpaste. You want to brush for a minimum of 2 minutes total. A good way to get them to brush their teeth for the appropriate amount of time is by setting a timer every time they brush. This will give them a good internal clock they can use when brushing. You can also simply leave a timer in the bathroom so they can use it while brushing for visual feedback. You also want to ensure they are flossing properly. Floss between every tooth to loosen any bacteria or debris that a toothbrush can’t reach and remove.

3. Avoid Eating Too Much Candy

While candy can be a good treat for your children now and then, you don’t want to get them in the habit of snacking too regularly. Your children will be much more susceptible to developing cavities if they are constantly eating candy. Try to avoid any sticky candies as they tend to get caught in between the teeth where they can do more damage. If possible, have your children drink water and rinse their mouths out after eating sugary foods and beverages.

4. Use Mouthwash and Clean The Tongue

You can find a lot of fluoride mouthwashes available that will help to get rid of particles that may not have been eliminated through brushing or flossing alone. Also, it can be a good way to freshen the breath and get rid of bacteria living on the tongue. Try to scrape the tongue off gently too.

5. Drink Water

A lot of kids tend to drink far too much juice. Juice is just as bad as soda for your children’s teeth. You want to avoid giving them too much juice as it’s just going to eat away at their teeth’s enamel. Try to opt for water instead of juice whenever possible. The more water they drink, the healthier their mouth will be. It’s best to avoid all beverages that are acidic and sugary. These beverages can disrupt the mouth’s pH level and can lead to premature tooth decay.

Overall, there is a lot that you will want to do to improve your child’s dental hygiene. The key is getting regular checkups and practicing the basics with them. You want to ensure they are implementing an effective dental regimen at home. This can keep their mouth as healthy as possible. By visiting a dentist every six months, you can prevent a lot of major issues from cropping up. After all, a dentist can pinpoint specific issues that need to be addressed and provide real-time feedback about brushing and flossing habits. Schedule your next dental appointment for your child today!

Author: Dr. Gerald Regni

Dr Gerald Regni, DMD, has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years. He does general and cosmetic dentistry, but has a special interest and focus in biological and holistic dentistry. He can be contacted at: Dr. Gerald Regni, DMD 937 Christian St Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 351-9399