written by Kerry Ward, RDH

A child’s first visit to the dentist is best at a young age to have their tooth development checked, learn proper brushing and to introduce them having their teeth cleaned professionally in order to ensure their comfort level for years to come.

To help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:

* Brush twice a day with ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque the sticky film on teeth that’s the main cause of tooth decay.

* Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line, before it can harden into tartar.  Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.

* Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay.  When you do eat these foods, try to eat them with your meal instead of as a snack the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth.

* Make sure that your children’s drinking water is fluoridated.  If your water supply; municipal, well or bottled does not contain fluoride, your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.

* Bring your children to visit Kerry Ward, RDH and Alison Jean, RDH, our hygienists and Terry L. Schrubb, DMD, our dentist for dental check-ups here at Amerident Dental.  Click on “Request an Appointment” today!