Unexpected Places You’ll Find Fluoride
You know about fluoride in your toothpaste and fluoride treatments at your dentist, but did you know you can find fluoride in tons of other places? That's right; fluoride occurs...
It can be an uphill battle trying to get your kids to brush, floss, and treat their teeth with respect – but having the right products on your side makes a big difference. With the staggering number of toothbrushes, toothpastes, flossers, and other hygiene aids on the market, there’s one that your children are sure to love. But how do you find it? Find our recommendations for kids’ home dental care below – and get in touch if you’d like personalized guidance.
Should Kids Use Fluoride Toothpaste?
New studies are suggesting that fluoride is more important for young teeth than we previously realized. Because it helps build tooth enamel, if your children don’t get enough fluoride during permanent tooth development, they may be faced with a lifetime of weak, sensitive, and decay-prone teeth. The ADA (American Dental Association) now recommends that parents use rice-grain-sized amounts of toothpaste on their children’s teeth from the time their first teeth erupt. At the age of 6, they should increase this to a pea-sized amount.
By avoiding cavities during your child’s youth, you help them not develop dental anxiety. They won’t experience the discomfort and unease that accompanies a cavity/filling, and will view the dental office as a happy place. Fluoride is key in making this a possibility.
Helping Your Children Enjoy Oral Hygiene
- Find the right products – If your kids don’t like the taste of their toothpaste or the look of their toothbrush, find another that they do enjoy using. If they struggle to use floss, get them floss holders to keep everything simple. The easier their oral hygiene, the more willing they’ll be to keep up with it.
- Make things collaborative – Brush or floss alongside your kids, find a song they can listen to while brushing (one that’s about 2-minutes long will show them how long they should tend to their teeth), or put up an oral hygiene chart so that they can check off their brushing and flossing twice a day. Get them engaged with their dental care!
