Just like that, it’s Spring, and the world looks brighter! The skies are sunnier. Daylight in Vorhees lasts longer. And your family’s smiles can be brighter, too—with a little bit of spring cleaning.
After all, sometimes dental habits become routine, and we start to skip a few steps. Children might not brush as long as they should, or forget to floss every day. Busy lives might mean your family is behind schedule for an exam and cleaning.
You want the best for your child’s dental health, so we have some easy-to-follow steps to help keep young smiles their cleanest and brightest.
Assemble the right tools.
- Use soft-bristled toothbrushes, because anything firmer can be hard on small (and grown-up!) teeth and gums. If your child is having trouble cleaning away food particles and plaque, especially around braces, an electric toothbrush might be a game changer.
- Find the right floss. If your child is skipping this important step because it’s difficult, there are lots of options available to make flossing easier and more successful. Whether it’s a different type of floss, floss picks, interproximal brushes, or water flossers, Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi can recommend the best products for your child.
- Choose fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride not only helps prevent cavities by creating an unfavorable environment for cavity-causing bacteria, it also actually strengthens tooth enamel as well. Win/win!
Use those tools!
- You’ll probably need to monitor your child’s brushing until around age 8. Make sure all the surfaces of the teeth are brushed, inside, outside, and the tops of molars. Show your child how to brush along the gumline at a 45˚ angle to prevent plaque buildup, which can harden into tartar.
- Dentists generally recommend brushing twice a day, for two minutes each time. If your child wears braces, food particles and plaque can collect around brackets and wires, so brushing more often might be recommended.
- When children wear aligners, retainers, mouthguards, nightguards, or other appliances, it’s important to brush before wearing them. No one wants food particles or bacteria trapped in their appliance!
- Help children floss at least once a day, or as often as recommended, until they are capable of flossing independently (somewhere around ages eight to 11).
Make sure your dental products are in top shape.
- Replace your child’s toothbrush as often as necessary. After three months or so, bristles start to fray. They don’t clean as effectively, and they could be abrasive to gum tissue. Change out toothbrushes every three to four months, including the heads on electric brushes. A good way to remember is to change family brushes with the change of seasons.
- Check the date(s)! Many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other oral supplies come with a “best used by” date, ensuring that your products remain safe and effective.
- Choose the right toothbrush holder. Brushes should air-dry upright, because bacteria and other germs thrive in closed, damp environments. And the holder shouldn’t allow family members’ brushes to touch, to prevent sharing bacteria and viruses. Clean your brush holder regularly to remove toothpaste residue and germs.
- Make sure your child cleans retainers, mouthguards, night guards, and/or cases for appliances as recommended. Bits of food, bacteria, viruses, and other germs collect there as well.
Work with the experts for the brightest family smiles.
- See Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi regularly. You’ll discover any problems which might be dimming your child’s smile, and you’ll discover them early.
- Proper brushing and flossing can be difficult for children, especially with braces, so ask any member of the Pasternack Pediatric Dental team to demonstrate the best brushing and flossing tools and techniques.
- Schedule cleanings with exams to eliminate the built-up plaque and tartar which brushing can’t. The team at Pasternack Pediatric Dental uses tools such as ultrasonic or hand scalers and polishers to remove stubborn plaque, tartar, and surface stains for whiter enamel and a brighter smile.
Easy steps, yes? Step up your family’s cleaning routines, and you’ll enjoy a Springtime filled with not just brighter smiles, but healthier ones, too!