Why Is Teeth Cleaning Important for Kids?

Did you know that one of the most important things you can do for your child is to have their teeth cleaned regularly? Teeth cleaning is important for kids because it helps keep their teeth healthy and free from cavities. It is the best way to maintain your child’s smile looking attractive and healthy while avoiding longer, more stressful appointments to the dentist for repairs.

This blog will discuss why teeth cleaning is important and provide tips on making it fun.

Importance of Teeth Cleaning for Kids

Your child may have dental problems you are unaware of, one of which is cavities. Generally, cavities are common in children during their first 10 years of existence. It can spread and worsen without proper teeth cleaning and regular dental cleanings, producing more serious concerns. 

Here is the importance of teeth cleaning for kids.  

Prevent Cavities and Tooth Loss

Cavities are one of the common dental issues in children. The excess sugar in sweets causes small holes or tooth decay that eventually leads to a cavity. This can be stopped with proper brushing practices twice daily before school starts and at night after dinner. 

And to avoid plaque development, children should brush and floss every day. Another way to avoid dental issues is to go to the dental clinic for a check-up and thorough cleaning. A visit from one will give your child’s mouth an exam for any signs of trouble, so they know what needs fixing before things worsen.

Prevent Serious Oral Health Problems

Not properly brushing your child’s teeth can result in a serious oral issue. With this, you should keep your child’s teeth clean to avoid infection, illnesses, and tooth decay, resulting in healthier teeth and mouth for years to come. 

Proper teeth brushing and regular dental clinic visits could prevent serious health problems, such as infections, painful toothaches, and tooth loss. Tooth sensitivity, toothaches, holes, brown or black stains, and pain when biting are the most typical symptoms. It can also hurt when eating or drinking something hot or cold.

Brighten Teeth and A Fresher Breath

Many kids get stains or yellow-looking teeth from eating their favourite snacks. Regularly brushing their teeth can help prevent stains from acquiring permanent discoloration. 

Accordingly, bad breath is one of the diseases that your children could get if they have bad oral hygiene. Bad breath can be triggered by gum disease, tooth decay, or even an infection. Teach your child to regularly maintain appropriate oral health and schedule frequent dental cleanings for better and fresher breath.

Save Money

Buying a proper toothbrush and toothpaste for your kids can help you save money in the long run. Also, you could invest in regular dental cleanings for children that can help avoid tooth decay, infection, and disease, saving you money in the long term. Regular visits to dental clinics could help you prevent serious dental problems that may cost expensive treatments.

Keeping the Baby Teeth Healthy

Some parents believe regular cleanings are unnecessary for children while they still have baby teeth, but this is not the case. Healthy baby teeth let your kid chew easily, improve speech development, maintain jaw space for permanent teeth, and keep the gums healthy.

Any baby who has their first baby teeth can get decay and cavities. Moreover, children who have cavities in their primary teeth are more prone to develop cavities in their permanent teeth. To clean their small teeth, you can use a small and soft toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste, then gently brush around their teeth. 

When Should Kids Visit the Dentist?

Kids should attend the dentist by their first birthday or six months after developing their first tooth. It is to properly start monitoring their teeth’ development and ensure they are healthy. Children, like adults, require six-month dental regular cleaning beginning at two.

Additionally, some areas of the mouth are difficult to reach with normal toothbrushes and floss. Plaques can build up in these areas and could turn into tartar. Generally, tartar is a thick, hard plaque that can only be removed by deep dental cleaning.

5 Tips on How to Encourage Your Child to Brush Their Teeth

Some children are hard to convince and encourage to brush their teeth. If that is the case for your child, here are some tips on how you can encourage them to brush their teeth daily and on their own. 

1. Set a Good Example

You can let your kits watch you as you do your tooth brushing routine. Then, as you let them watch you, show the important points, like brushing your tongue and reaching the furthest back teeth. Use exaggerated motions to demonstrate each important stage in brushing to kids. 

Afterwards, show your pearly white teeth in the mirror to assure a quality job is done. Be sure to appear very happy and proud of your efforts to show your child the reward of properly brushing your teeth. 

2. Reward and Praise Your Children After Brushing Their Teeth

You can reward and praise your child after brushing their teeth every night or morning. Let them collect the small monthly rewards, like stickers, and tell them that if they reach a certain quantity of stickers, you’ll reward them with a bigger award. 

3. Play Some Music or Dance as They Brush Their Teeth

As you watch them brush their teeth, you can play some music around the bathroom and add some rhythm. You can also teach a technique to your child that brushes their teeth during a two-minute song and then stops when the music stops.

4. Let Them Brush Their Teeth by Themselves

Some children want to brush their teeth on their own. You could let them practice where to find the toothpaste and toothbrush and how to apply the toothpaste and brush their teeth on their own. Brushing their teeth on their own could also develop their motor skills and confidence. 

5. Try a Different Toothbrush or Toothpaste

Some toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste are made especially for kids. The packaging and designs can be full of their favorite characters that could make them look forward to using them to brush their teeth. You could use this advantage and let them choose what they prefer.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this information has helped underscore the importance of teeth cleaning for kids. It is one of the best ways to maintain your child’s smile looking attractive and healthy while avoiding longer, more stressful appointments to the dentist for treatment. 

Fortunately, Huch Family Dentistry is here to care for your child’s smile! They take pleasure in providing you with all the knowledge and information required to make an informed decision about your dental care treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact them.