Oral Hygiene Instruction
Today you and your child are taking the first step on the road to dental health
KidZdent offers oral hygiene instruction as a way to ensure parents and children are prepared with the knowledge and experience to handle at-home dental care. Our ultimate goal for each child is to provide guidance and treatment to nurture and shape beautiful healthy smiles that last a lifetime. Understanding one’s personal daily oral hygiene needs is a key factor for achieving that goal. Home-care is a personal experience requiring proper balanced meals, reduction of unhealthy habits, and use of various dental tools or solutions which help to control plaque and bacteria in your mouth.
Basics 101: Floss, Brush, Rinse, REPEAT!
Basics 101: Floss, Brush, Rinse, REPEAT!
Did you know that 80% of dental disease is found between your teeth and under your gums? So make sure to floss first and brush both, teeth and gums, second!
- Floss between any teeth that touch
- Brush your child's teeth for them twice a day
- Avoid soda, sweet juices, and sticky snacks
- Seal your child's teeth to prevent tooth decay
- Rinse with water after every meal
- Visit KidZdent twice a year for dental examinations
Flossing
The best way to clean between your teeth and under your gums is of course, flossing. However, very few adults, let alone children know the proper technique when it comes to flossing. KidZdent will teach you the way!
Flossing not only helps clean the important, hard to reach areas, it disrupts bacterial plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. A tooth has 5 surfaces and the tooth brush alone only gets three of them. The dental floss will get the other two surfaces providing the ultimate clean.
3 Easy Steps:
- Take 24-30 inches (60- 76 cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between your thumb and index finger.
- Using your thumbs and index finger to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between the teeth. Do not snap it in between the teeth in fear of traumatizing the gums.
- Wrap the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gum line. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth. Only apply pressure to the floss as it moves toward the chewing surface. We want it to be “squeaky clean.” Whenever you go between two teeth you have two surfaces to clean.
Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional or traditional floss. Feel free to make it fun and try a really delicious flavor like mint!
Tooth brushing
Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and small amount of fluoride based toothpaste.
Brush With Purpose:
- Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using small circular motions, and then rolling down 3 times. Start on the upper right and do one tooth at a time and progress to the upper left. Then go to the tongue side of the upper left and return to the upper right side. Then go to the cheek side of the lower right and proceed to the lower left. Then move to the tongue side of the lower left and proceed to the lower right.
- Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
- Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
- Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth 6 times to remove extra bacteria and freshen your breath.
Rinsing
It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also after meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist on its appropriateness for you.
Use other dental aids as recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist: Interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.
KidZdent is here to provide you the very best in oral hygiene instruction. Make your appointment today so a pediatric dentist or professional hygienist can show you in person how to practice proper oral hygiene.
Get in Touch
Have questions or need any help from our team? Reach out to us below and one of our team members will get in touch with you as soon as we see your request.