Tips for Preventing Cavities In Kids – Keep Your Little One’s Mouth Healthy

Worried that your little one may be prone to developing cavities? Here are a few quick tips from Willow Pediatric Dentistry that can help you keep your child’s mouth healthy and protect their teeth from decay. 

1. Brush Twice A Day For Two Minutes

Whether you’re brushing for your child or they’ve begun brushing on their own, make sure they brush twice a day for two minutes using fluoride toothpaste. It’s best to brush once in the morning and once before bed or after their final meal of the day.

It’s a good idea to brush with your kids so that you can make sure they’re cleaning their teeth properly, and brushing for an adequate length of time. You can make it fun, too! Play games, sing songs, and enjoy some family time as you and your little ones brush your teeth. 

2. Floss Once A Day

Most kids can’t floss on their own until they’re at least 6-8 years old, so you’ll have to do this for them until they’re older. Still, don’t skip flossing. Flossing helps remove bacteria, plaque, and food particles that brushing simply can’t reach, so this is very important for reducing the risk of cavities. 

3. Add Mouthwash To Their Oral Care Routine

When your child is old enough to rinse and spit, mouthwash can be used to freshen their breath, kill oral bacteria, and rinse away food particles. This is particularly effective after flossing, since it helps remove debris that was loosened during the flossing process. 

4. Give Them Plenty Of Tap Water To Drink 

It’s important to make sure your children are properly hydrated. This helps stimulate saliva production, which is essential for rinsing away food particles and bacteria from your child’s mouth. Skip the bottled water, too, and opt for tap water. Bottled and distilled water doesn’t contain fluoride, but tap water does. This helps “remineralize” and strengthen your child’s teeth, leaving them less susceptible to cavities.

5. Watch What They Eat And Drink

Excessive sugar intake is the single biggest contributing factor to cavity development, so make sure you take steps to keep your little one’s diet healthy. Young kids should only drink milk and tap water. Avoid juice, cola, energy drinks, sports drinks, and other such beverages as much as possible. In addition, make sure to feed your child a diet low in sugar and processed foods. Try to give them fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, healthy dairy like yogurt and cheese, and lean meats. 

Routine Dental Appointments Are Also Essential For Preventing Cavities! 

Seeing a dentist regularly helps catch cavities early and can even prevent them from forming altogether. So if your little one is overdue for their next teeth cleaning and oral exam, Willow Pediatric Dentistry is here to help. Dr. Sam Alzayat treats kids of all ages with child-friendly gentle preventive dental care in Rancho Santa Margarita. Contact us online or give us a call at (949) 966-0669 to schedule an appointment today.