Snacks, Gum And Fun: Three Ways To Improve Your Child's Dental Health

Posted on: 13 January 2019

Do you have a kid that loves to snack but isn't crazy about brushing and flossing? Many parents are sharing your struggles to keep a child's teeth clean and healthy. Fortunately, there are some small changes that you can make that will help you win the battle.

Say "Yes" to Snacks

You don't have to keep your kid from eating and drinking like a little bird all day. The truth is, if you give your kids the right options, their nibbling habits can actually help to keep their teeth cleaner.

Instead of sweets, gram crackers and those little yellow goldfish, give them crunchy fruits and veggies to chew on. The crunchy snacks will clean their teeth as they chew, even those hard to reach places.

Dairy is essential for healthy teeth, but your kid will need to make sure to either eat a crunchy snack, drink a glass of water or brush their teeth after eating dairy products. Dairy does contain sugars that will coat the teeth and cause cavities if the teeth are not cleaned after consumption.

Get rid of the juice and sugary drinks, take your kid shopping and let him or her pick out a water bottle. If they are excited about having a water bottle, they'll be more likely to carry it around and actually drink the water inside. Just maintain one rule, that the water bottle is for water only. The first time you put juice in it, he or she will begin asking for it to be filled with drinks other than water.

Gum is OK

If your kid is old enough to control bubble gum without it ending up in their hair, on their clothes or entangled in the cat's tail, pick up a pack of sugar-free gum. As long as it's sugar-free, it will remove the food that's stuck in the crevices of the molars and promote the production of saliva. The saliva helps to minimize the acid in the mouth that will cause damage to the teeth.

Make a Day of Dental Trips

What is your kid's favorite thing to do? If it's within reason, include that activity in the day of the dental trips, or the day after if work is being done that will prevent your kid from eating and drinking for a while. Set a goal for the visit, whether it's not to have any cavities, or if it's just that he or she sits up well for the appointment. You set the goals so that they have to strive for something great when it's all done.

It isn't easy keeping up with every need, especially when kids choose to make it more difficult than it needs to be. Keep trying and you will eventually get your kid on board with good dental hygiene. For more help, contact a company like Desert Dental: Ruintan Kamran D.M.D..

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