What guidelines will help children remain cavity free?
If you are worried about your children’s teeth, here are the ADA’s guidelines on how to keep your children cavity free.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends:
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Brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. The American Dental Association wants you and your children to have the best oral health possible, which is why they recommend brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time. By removing food and plaque buildup, you’re lessening the chance for bacteria to form and produce acids that attack tooth enamel.
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Floss children’s teeth at least once a day. Flossing is a great way to keep your child’s teeth cavity free. By removing food particles before bacteria and acid have a chance to attack, you can keep your teeth healthy and strong. Flossing also reduces your risk of developing gum disease by removing potential irritants. So be sure to floss every day!
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Visit your Dentist regularly. At your regular dental visits, your dentist does more than just clean your child’s teeth. They also check for any potential problems and give you a chance to have any questions answered. This is why it’s important to keep up with your dental appointments – to make sure your smile stays healthy, happy, and cavity free!
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Get enough fluoride. Through drinking water, fluoride products, and fluoride supplements, if necessary.
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Have sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth or molars. Think of sealants as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create holes in teeth. These holes are cavities. After sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth—just like a raincoat keeps you clean and dry during a storm.
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Snack moderately-no more than twice a day. Chewy snacks can cause tooth decay if they linger on your teeth for too long. Foods like granola bars, raisins, oatmeal, and peanut butter tend to stick around longer than other foods, so it’s important to brush after eating them. This doesn’t mean you have to avoid giving your child these foods altogether, just make sure they brush their teeth afterwards do that they can remain cavity free.