Parenting: Determining How Many Times to Brush Your Child's Teeth

Healthy teeth and gums let us talk, smile, laugh, and kiss without embarrassment. In addition, dental science reaffirms that head and body health are indeed connected. Recent clinical studies show that systemic diseases like bacterial pneumonia and diabetes are link to poor dental hygiene. Thus, these are more serious reasons than ever to brush child's teeth at least twice daily, and to floss once, before bedtime.

Unfortunately, some parents do not consider their child's first teeth to be of any importance so they do not exercise proper dental care for children.

Last November, a three-year-old child complained of a mild toothache in her upper right molar. Her parents took her to a dentist, but the check-up failed to reveal anything serious. After few days, the right side of the girl's face started to swell.

The hospital dental care information revealed an inflamed and infected tooth pulp, which is the innermost part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood supply. The infection caused her a painful toothache and swelling across her entire face. Doctors rushed her to surgery to drain the infection. Her case, if without the proper dental treatment, may cause brain abscess, then death.

What happens in and around the mouth can affect other parts of the body. Recent studies indicate that the bacterium in decaying teeth and infected gums promotes heart disease, stroke, or oral cancer. However, you can prevent tooth decays and gum disease by following a simple daily dental routine of cleaning and caring teeth including gums of children.

The most basic dental care for children that parents should practice is the regular removal of plaque and food particles from in between teeth and gum crevices. Parents must practice brushing children teeth every after meal and upon waking up in the morning.

Best dental practice also requires parents to clean child mouth before bedtime because saliva flow slows down during sleep leaving the mouth with less protection against dental cavities and bad breath.

Likewise, parents must limit children consumption of starchy, sugary foods and drinks because the more frequent is the consumption, the greater is the exposure of child teeth to low PH level. Parents must brush child teeth or rinse mouth with plain water immediately after the consumption of food and drink. In addition, teaching children to drink sweet liquid through a straw keeps all the sugar at the back of the mouth.

When brushing, children must spit the fluoridated toothpaste instead of swallowing it as this causes mottling of the enamel of the permanent teeth. In fact, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is the right amount every time parent brush child teeth.

It is important for parents to know where plaque accumulates in the mouth to be able to brush child teeth effectively. Plaque covers tooth surface especially in gum crevices, between the tooth, in the inside surface of the lower front teeth, and behind the last molars including behind isolated teeth.

Whether a child uses a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, work the toothbrush bristle tips into these areas. Hold the toothbrush at 45 degrees angle to the teeth and use a gentle scrubbing motion on the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.

Parents should aid a child in brushing and flossing teeth until the age 7 or 8 years old. Then again, children should start learning right tooth brushing as soon as they can hold a toothbrush.

Generally, dentists require children to have semi-annual dental checks even if the teeth look good. Normally, professional dental cleaning includes tooth polishing, tooth scaling and debridement including fluoride treatment. Also, a healthy, balance diet will help keep children teeth strong and healthy.

If more people realized the consequences of not taking special care child teeth and gums, they would probably call a dentist tomorrow. Remember: Parents, do not take children dental care for granted. Keep Teeth Clean. Brush Child Teeth At Least Twice Daily.