Kids' Guide to Oral and Dental Hygiene

Cavities aren't a rare thing that only a few people have to deal with in their lives. In fact, more than half of children between the ages of 6 and 8 have had at least one cavity. This is why it's so important to develop a healthy oral hygiene routine while you're still young.

With proper oral and dental hygiene habits, you can help prevent cavities and tooth decay from happening in the first place. One of the best ways of doing so is by using fluoride, a mineral that helps make your teeth their strongest. Fluoride is used in many toothpastes, and studies have shown that children who brush with it daily will have fewer cavities. So be sure to get into the habit of brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as possible.

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities can be caused a few different ways. Knowing these causes can help you know how likely it is that you'll get cavities so you can pay extra attention to your dental hygiene.

The risk of developing cavities is higher if you:

• Have family members with cavities
• Consume a lot of sugary foods or drinks, including things like candy and soda
• Have any special health issues
• Wear braces or any other oral appliances

If any of these apply to you, make sure to have your parents or guardians speak with your dentist about the best ways to manage these risks and prevent tooth decay.

What Your Parents or Guardians Can Do to Help

There are a lot of things your parents or guardians can do to help make sure that you and your siblings practice good oral hygiene. Always be sure to ask them if you need help with your brushing.

For babies, grownups should:

• Be sure to wipe the baby's gums twice a day to remove bacteria or sugars. This should be done with a soft and clean cloth.
• Brush the baby's teeth once they come in twice a day using a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and water.
• Take the baby to a dentist before their first birthday to look for any early signs of oral problems.

Children should:

• Make sure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Learn how to brush properly on their own.
• Go to the dentist for regular checkups.
• Check to see if their tap water contains fluoride.

Further Reading

• My Water's Fluoride: This website will help you and the grownups in your life figure out if the tap water in your home contains fluoride.
• Colgate Teeth Games for Kids: You can make brushing and taking care of your teeth fun with these game ideas from Colgate.
• Your Teeth: You can learn all about your teeth and how they work with this page from KidsHealth.
• Dental Buddy: Dental Buddy is an interactive program that makes learning about dental care fun!
• Brush Those Teeth: A fun online game from Sesame Street can help you learn the best way to brush your teeth.
• Dental Health Puzzles and Games: These printable activity sheets will teach you all about dental care while playing some fun puzzles and games.
• Smile Power: Discover why keeping your teeth is so important with this guide from the Chicago Dental Society.
• Model Mouth Craft: Learn about the mouth by building a model of one using just construction paper, glue, scissors, and marshmallows.
• Brushing and Flossing: This guide from Healthy Teeth Healthy Kids will walk you through the best ways to brush and floss your teeth.
• Six Easy Tips to Make Brushing Fun: Make your teeth-brushing time fun with these tips.
• Best and Worst Foods for Health Children's Teeth: Are you taking care of your teeth with the food you're eating? Find out with this helpful guide.
• Oral Health: Teacher Activities: This booklet is filled with a lot of different activities you can do with an adult to learn about dental hygiene.
• Create Your Own Dental Bib: Get ready for your next dentist visit when you use this page to create your very own dental bib.
• Brush, Book, Bed: This page will help you and your grownups develop a nightly routine that includes good dental hygiene habits.
• Keep Kids' Mouths Healthy: Learn the best ways to keep your teeth healthy at different ages.