5 Things You Can Do for Your Child to Help Keep Their Smiles Healthy and Bright

Did you know that each year, more than 51 million school hours are lost as a result of problems related to tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease in America [1]? In fact, tooth decay affects approximately half of all second graders and nearly 80 percent of 17-year-olds[2]. That’s why Trident® has partnered with Smiles Across America® to help underprivileged children get the dental care they need. 

I got that info from Twitter Moms, and I have to say I believe that.  As Amber is going through Orthodontic Treatment at the moment, we are very concerned about the health of her teeth and here are 5 simple things we do to help keep her smile healthy and bright.

1.  Have your kids use a Sonic Toothbrush.  They really do work a lot better than manual toothbrushes.  They get more plaque off because of the high oscillation and the orthodontist has noticed the improvement in brushing since Amber began using hers.

2.  Brushing after every meal.  Or at the very least rinsing with water.  Again it has made a tremendous difference in the amount of plaque.

3.  Brushing for 3 minutes.  It's amazing how long that really is.  Kids think they'r brushing for a long time but if they don't actually have a timer, chances are they aren't even close to the time they should be brushing.

4.  Regular dental check ups.  Going to the dentist can be expensive, even just for check-ups, but it's money well spent.  It costs a lot more for major dental work like fillings, and pulled teeth, so take your children at least once a year, but twice is best.  A lot of dental office will let you make payments, if finances are tight.

5. Using a flouride rinse.  Especially if your kids have dental appliances or braces.  This helps boost the effect of brushing, just a bit more.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.