Tips to Keep your Dental Health in Good Condition

Submitted by Ram on

Kids are mostly lazy when it comes to oral hygiene. While regular dentist checkups are good for oral care, there is a lot more that needs to be done to have perfect teeth and gums. This February is Children's Dental Hygiene Awareness Month. Make sure your kids follow proper dental hygiene and have good oral health.

Here are some tips that would help you keep your kids’ gums and teeth in perfect condition:

Brush twice daily

We all know it, but do we make our kids follow it? It is a good practice to brush before going to sleep and after waking up; and if possible, after each meal. Also, make sure that your kid flosses his teeth. While most people skip flossing because it is plain boring, it is actually very important as it pulls out food debris and plaque from between the teeth.

Brush in the right way

Teach your child the right way to brush his teeth. Make sure he does not brush too hard or too soft. Also, the correct way to brush is in circular motion. If your child is too young to brush on his own, sit him on your lap so that he doesn’t wriggle much. Once he gets older, you can stand beside him.

Get braces if required

If your kid’s teeth are crooked, it is best to get him braces at an early age. Braces are essential tools to help your child get the right bite. Also, they make it easy for him to clean his teeth. Braces used to be unattractive a few years back, but with advanced technology, there are different types of braces that you can use. You need to talk to your dentist to know the type that would be best for your child. Braces give long term effects, and their use is not limited to just the aesthetic factor. In fact, wearing them can also have a fashion appeal. And if your kid doesn’t support the idea of braces, you can get Invisalign braces that can be worn and removed each day.

Avoid sodas and other soft drinks

Sodas will rot away your child’s teeth before you know it. The carbon dioxide present in soda is bad for teeth as it eats away the tooth enamel. Also, these drinks are loaded with sugar. Sugar supports the growth of plaque which gives rise to several gum diseases like gingivitis. Plus they are made with tons of chemicals which makes them unhealthy. There are several reasons why your kids shouldn't drink soft drinks. Prefer fresh juices instead.

Apart from all these tips, keep an eye on your child’s eating habits. Make sure he is not eating a lot of sweets. Also, get a dental checkup every six months. It’s a good way to make sure that he has proper oral hygiene and good dental health.

Dental health and social security disability

Although it is very rare for dental health issues to qualify for disability, it is not unheard of. If you are wondering whether your dental health problems qualify for SSD benefits, fill out the form on this site for a free evaluation.