6 Simple Dental Care Tips for Parents and Kids

By Kate Ranta on Feb 3, 2021 @ 11:00 AM

Good dental hygiene is more than just going to the dentist—it’s an everyday practice! These dental care tips for parents and kids will help your family build a strong daily routine that keeps teeth white, breath fresh, and cavities at bay. With just a few simple habits, you can also protect against gum disease like gingivitis and support lifelong oral health.

Key Takeaways:

Floss every day
Replace your toothbrush regularly
Brush morning and night
Take your time brushing
Don’t forget your tongue
Use mouthwash daily

Building healthy habits together
Now that you know the key takeaways, let’s explore each of these dental care tips for parents and kids in more detail. These simple habits can make a big difference in your family’s oral health.

Floss every day

Flossing prevents tartar from building up around your teeth. Tartar is that hardened yellow plaque you sometimes see in the corners of your teeth. A buildup of tartar can inflame your gums and cause gingivitis. Preventing tartar from building up will also help keep your teeth white. Floss between each tooth, regardless of whether you have food stuck there. If it has been a while since you last flossed, your gums may bleed during the first few times flossing. Keep flossing, and your gums will toughen up!

Throw out your old toothbrush

Using the same toothbrush for too long is like using a dirty sponge to clean your dishes. Your toothbrush starts to carry bacteria into your mouth while you are trying to clean the bacteria out. Change out your toothbrush or toothbrush head when you notice that the bristles are starting to bend. Or use a new toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four months, whichever comes first.

Brush your teeth each morning and night.

It is commonly known that you must brush your teeth at least twice daily. If you’re ambitious, you can brush after every meal. Regardless of how often you brush your teeth in a day, be sure to brush your teeth first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Doing so will help prevent cavities.
While you sleep, your mouth dries out and loses its saliva. Saliva helps keep plaque off your teeth, so you will likely build up plaque and develop cavities at night. So make sure you brush your teeth before you go to bed to clean out the plague before it gets a chance to stick to your teeth, and then brush first thing in the morning to clean out any plaque or bacteria that made it onto your teeth during the night.

Slow down while brushing your teeth

Brushing too rigorously can damage your gums, and rushing through the process fails to clean your teeth adequately. Try holding your toothbrush like a pencil to avoid brushing too hard. Spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth in circular motions.

Brush your tongue

Bacteria on your tongue significantly cause bad breath - so brush your tongue! A tongue scraper is most effective; however, if you do not have one, gently scrub your tongue with your toothbrush while brushing your teeth.

Rinse daily with mouthwash.

Mouthwash doesn't just kill bad breath. It kills bacteria and prevents plaque from forming on your teeth. The great thing about mouthwash is that it only takes thirty seconds to shave it around your mouth to kill the bacteria in hard-to-reach places you may miss with your toothbrush or dental floss. Talk with your dentist about the different kinds of mouthwash to determine which is best for you. If you need some in a pinch, use our guide below to create your own at home!

Good dental hygiene only takes a few minutes a day. Even if you are following these tips, be sure you and your children go to the dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and a cleaning! During your check-up, your dentist can tell you how your daily routine works and if you need to make any adjustments.