Is it not ironic that we pay little attention to our own dental hygiene being adults but expect our children to follow a stringent routine of dental care? The best way to make them follow a routine is by following a routine ourselves. Leading by example is the best policy when it comes to children.

Tooth problems are too painful for children to handle. We need to not only imbibe good oral hygiene habits in children but also take care of their diet.

Let us look at some oral care tips for children:

• Use fluoride-based toothpaste for brushing children’s teeth. Fluoride helps fight against plaque. It may need a bit of cajoling from you to make your child use a not-so-tasty toothpaste.
• Get your child to floss his/her teeth once everyday. Flossing helps clean the hard-to-reach places between teeth.
• Make your child brush before going to bed. Brushing before going to bed helps remove all traces of food from your mouth, thereby preventing any formation of plaque.
• Curb on your child’s consumption of sugary food. Children love sweets, so do bacteria. You need to keep a check on your child’s sugar intake.
• Dissuade you child from sucking his/her thumb or using a pacifier after the age of six. Prolonged sucking of thumb or pacifier may lead to misalignment of teeth.
• Provide food rich in calcium. Calcium makes teeth stronger. Feed your children dairy products and other calcium-rich foods like tofu, spinach, broccoli, almonds, sesame, salmon, and sardines.
• Take your child to a dentist regularly. Like your teeth, your child’s too need regular check-ups. Visiting your dentist a couple of times a year is a good idea.
• Seek expert help immediately if you notice any color change or plaque in your child’s teeth.

Happy smiling!

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