Do Your Kids Make These Tooth Brushing And Flossing Mistakes?
Everyone knows the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth every single day. However, there may be some basic mistakes that your kids are making at home that are making their brushing and flossing not as effective. Here are some things to watch out for that they may be unaware of.
Rinsing After Brushing
Are your kids the type that immediately rinse their mouth out as soon as they are done brushing? They may not realize that rinsing your mouth is actually making the toothpaste not do its job as well. Spitting out the toothpaste and keeping a residue on their teeth is going to help the toothpaste strengthen their enamel and fight cavities. If they feel like they can't do this from not liking the taste, consider getting them a fluoride mouthwash to use afterward so that they still get the benefits of having fluoride on their teeth.
Not Brushing Along The Gumline
The purpose of brushing is not just to get your teeth clean, but to get rid of the plaque that can be hiding beneath the gum line. Unfortunately, many kids do not angle their toothbrush downward so that it can get rid of the plaque that is along the gums and can lead to gum disease later in life. Let them know that plaque can turn into tartar very quickly, and not brushing properly can lead to tartar buildup that must be removed by a dentist.
Not Using Clean Dental Floss
Are your kids using the same piece of dental floss and moving it between all of their teeth? If so, they could be moving the plaque from one tooth to the next. It is always a good idea to teach them to use plenty of floss so they can unravel it between their fingers and use a clean piece between the different teeth. This often happens when kids use floss picks, which are good for young kids that don't have the dexterity for normal dental floss but often lead to reusing the same piece over and over again.
Applying Too Much Pressure
Brushing your teeth is not like scrubbing a surface, where harder scrubbing will help get out tough stains. It's always best to teach your kids to use a soft bristle toothbrush with light pressure when brushing their teeth; otherwise, they could be doing damage to the enamel of their teeth that will weaken the tooth over time. If they have stains they are trying to remove, visit your dentist for their help instead of brushing hard.
For more information, contact a pediatric dental clinic in your area.