How to maintain a good oral hygiene for your child?

Kids' teeth well taken care of, starting from the growth of child tooth will ensure a beautiful smile as they grow up. Teeth give shape and frame to the face. It is important to care for them since childhood. It is easy to keep your children's teeth healthy when you teach them the importance of dental hygiene and make them practice it as everyday routine. Sweeteners and acids from sodas and other junk foods destroy the enamel of the teeth leading to dental plaque and caries.

Firstly, a good oral hygiene is necessary to keep the teeth healthy. You can start brushing your baby's teeth when 6 to 8 teeth pop out. A soft baby tooth brush can be used and it can be given in your baby's hands (without paste) for them to explore and get the hang of it. Take them with you when you are brushing your teeth every morning and they will learn from what they see.

Your child can be taught about the techniques of brushing when they are big enough to understand. Make it a 'must' that they have to brush twice daily.

Teaching techniques of oral hygiene:
1. Ask them to hold tooth brush at a 45 degree angle between brush and the gums and teeth.
2. Make the kids brush teeth in rotatory motion.
3. Start brushing from the lower left jaw moving from incisor to molars.
4. Continue with the right lower jaw followed by left and right upper jaws.
5. Brush the outer surface of the teeth first, then covering the biting and inner surfaces of the teeth.
6. Continue the cycle twice or thrice every time you brush your kid's teeth.
7. The gums should not be neglected while brushing.
8. Clean the tongue at the end of brushing with the same soft tooth brush or a tongue cleaner.
9. Floss at least once daily, kids may find this annoying. But parents should teach them the importance of having the teeth flossed.
10. Have the kid rinse or gargle his mouth after brushing to prevent bad breath, plaque and caries.

Always use a soft tooth brush for children (and adults) to prevent damage of enamel. Have a check on their brushes and replace them at the first sign of wear.

Secondly, take your child to the dentist every six months to do scaling (if necessary) and to prevent any problem regarding the oral cavity at the beginning itself.

Thirdly, there are some general instructions to keep your kids' teeth healthy. They are
a. Use only kids' tooth paste for kids.
b. Use tooth paste with fluoride.
c. Give them fluoridated water to drink as far as possible.
d. Examine their mouth every day to check whether they have brushed effectively.
e. Make sure your kids brush their teeth after taking candies or any sweets especially before going to bed.
f. Tell them not to place ice cubes or ice-creams directly on their teeth.
g. Make sure you give them milk everyday.
h. Make them chew and eat their food.
i. Other food products for a healthy teeth which are rich in calcium include yogurt, cheese, ice-creams, tofu, beans, broccoli, mustard and turnip greens, okra, soy and rice beverages, sardine, salmon, tuna and orange.

A healthy and sparkling teeth will make your child give a confident smile and add extra beauty to their innocent face.