Getting braces for kids can vastly improve the shape and appearance of your child's smile. However, without proper dental hygiene, it's possible for cavities and gum disease to develop. Taking care of your child's teeth is more important than ever while they're wearing braces, but it doesn't have to be hard. If you're ensuring that your child is brushing daily, add these simple tips to boost their dental hygiene so that when they get their braces off, they reveal pearly whites.
Water Flosser
Water flossers are highly powered dental tools that spray water. The spray of water is finely focused and designed to blast away plaque, bacteria, and food debris. Many studies have found that water flossers are excellent at maintaining or improving gum health, and they're a great way of keeping teeth and gums happy while wearing braces.
Steps to Using It Effectively
While water flossers can be useful tools, it's important to know how to use them properly. The best way to go about this is for you to initially use it on your child's teeth and to teach them how to do so while you do it.
Every water flosser is different, so read the directions carefully. Some contain enough water to clean all of your child's teeth, while others will need to be refilled. In addition, many have different speed and intensity settings. Starting with the lowest setting is ideal, as it's less likely to cause irritation if your child's gums are unhealthy.
With the water flosser, slowly wave it over your child's teeth and between each pair of teeth. Make sure to move along the gumline to really blast away bacteria that can cause gum disease. If you run out of water and haven't finished, fill it up and continue. Give your child an opportunity to try while looking in the mirror. If they're not doing it well yet themselves, keep showing them how to until they do as good a job as you do.
Regular Visits
Finally, make sure to schedule regular visits for your child to see their dentist. Catching gum disease and tooth decay early on can help to stop them in their tracks. In addition, you can schedule in-depth cleanings more frequently to ensure that your child's teeth and gums are as healthy and clean as they can be.
Keeping your child's teeth healthy while they have braces is a necessity. If you feel like your child is still having problems, make an appointment with a dentist to discuss your child's teeth.
Share14 June 2018
After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.
