Bacteria are losing the battle for kids’ teeth
Your child's teeth are particularly vulnerable to decay. The enamel on milk teeth is not as hard as it is on adult teeth – even new permanent teeth are weaker for the first few years. The millions of bacteria in your child’s mouth can wreak havoc on their teeth if they’re not carefully cleaned away.
Toothache can interrupt eating, sleeping and education at critical times when children need nourishment and rest in order to grow and learn. Decay and the early loss of decayed milk teeth can have a direct impact on the health of your child's permanent teeth. Bad teeth can also be disfiguring!
To help avoid these problems, dentists recommend that children brush their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste: once in the morning and once after the last meal of the day.
This will not only help brush away the bacteria, but fluoride also helps to strengthen teeth and protect them from decay.
Brushing day and night with fluoride toothpaste can cut tooth decay by up to 50% for children, compared with brushing just once (Pine et al., International Dental Journal 2000; 50: 312–323).
Germs don't sleep!
During the night bacteria don’t stop, even for a nap! This is bad news, as your mouth’s natural protector (saliva) drops to a very low level, leaving teeth vulnerable to acid attacks from these pesky bacteria, which can lead to cavities and pain. So brushing at night before bed is extremely important.
Have fun brushing together!
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As a parent, your role is really important in establishing the brushing habit that your kids will have for a lifetime. However, we all know it can be difficult to get your children to brush their teeth day and night, especially in the evening when they have to stop playing and get ready for bed.
Brushing doesn’t need to be a battleground! Let children see that brushing can be a fun family time. Click here to find out how Pablo and Oliver are livening it up.
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