How to Keep Your Kid's Teeth Healthy

Each day, you carefully brush your teeth, floss, and swish with Listerine, happy that you're keeping your mouth healthy. But how can you be sure that your kids are brushing like they should? With their young hectic lives of school, homework, and 24/7 technology, it's easy for children to forget to brush their teeth. Here are a few ways to ensure your child's teeth are staying healthy, even if he or she doesn't always remember to brush and floss:

Fluoride Water

Water enhanced with fluoride has been proven to keep teeth healthy, and many big cities automatically add fluoride to their water to promote city-wide health. See if your city adds fluoride to tap water, and if not, buy bottled water with fluoride added to strengthen your family's teeth.

Warning: Some scientists warn that fluoride, even in small amounts, can be a harmful carcinogen after long-term exposure. Research fluoride to decide if it's right for your family.

Limit Soda Consumption

Have you ever seen the carbonated egg experiment? Basically, an egg with shell on (representing your teeth's surface) is placed in a glass of soda. After a couple of days, the egg's shell has completely dissolved. This experiment represents what soda does to your teeth over time- scary, huh? (Trying this experiment with your children would be a fun way to illustrate the importance of dental hygiene.)

To greatly improve your children's teeth, make a commitment to limit or eliminate soda in your household. Additionally, if your children drink bone-building milk or vitamin-rich juice instead of soda, their teeth will be even healthier.

Make the Daily Dental Routine Fun

Minutes spent brushing, flossing between every tooth, and rinsing with mouthwash can make your children bored and less likely t take care of their teeth in the future. Luckily, you can make your children's dental experience entertaining with singing character toothbrushes, flavored floss, and color-changing mouth-wash. By introducing some fun into your children's dental routine, you'll be encouraging them to maintain their health.

Educate Your Children

The most important part of keeping your children's teeth healthy is to educate them about dental hygiene and consequences of bad dental hygiene. Talk with your child about how painful cavities are, and how attractive healthy teeth look. Instill in your children a sense of responsibility for their teeth, and you'll be ensuring your children's health for the future as well as the now.

Follow these tips to keep your children's teeth healthy, strong, and cavity-free. Whatever you decide to do, remember to set a good example, educate your children, and make dental hygiene fun!