The Dental Protection Your Family Needs

As a responsible member of the family, possibly the best gift you can give your family is to make sure the smiles of your family members remain just as beautiful as they are already.

A proper dental health routine, along with precautions, and do’s and don'ts is what’s required to achieve and maintain a perfect white smile. Today, make yourself familiar with the care your family needs to receive all-around protection.

Have a proper dental care routine

First and foremost, the most important component of dental care is establishing a routine. Here is a list of everything your dental care routine should include:

• Brush twice a day. It goes without saying, brushing is the most basic exercise you need to perform first thing in the morning. In the process, it’s crucial that you do it right. Ideally, get a toothbrush with a small head, it’ll reach corners that a regular toothbrush won’t. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and brush in a circular motion, avoiding any harsh strokes.
• Use a mouthwash. A toothbrush does not cover your entire mouth, and to receive complete cleaning get a mouthwash, preferably alcohol-free, and rinse with it daily.
• Use a toothpaste containing fluoride. If any members of your family have sensitive teeth or exposed nerves, make sure they use sensitive toothpaste.
• Don’t forget to scrape your tongue, preferably with a tongue scraper, or the back of your toothbrush otherwise.
• Floss every day. Use a water flosser with your kids or any elder members of the family who find the flossing technique uncomfortable.

Use teeth protectors during sports

No matter how strong your teeth are, they’re bound to break or crack if you get a blow on your face or fall on the ground. During your sports, especially for kids, fix them up with a tooth protector and use one yourself if needed.

A tooth protector significantly reduces the chances of hurting your teeth and protects the smile you’ll need after you win the game. On a similar tangent, be sure to protect your toothbrush as well. Oftentimes, in a bathroom setting our toothbrushes are exposed to a lot of foreign germs and bacteria that can be harmful. Get a toothbrush protector, such as the BrushGuard toothbrush protector, and be rest assured.

Say no to Smoking

Along with being unpleasant for the teeth, smoking, in general, is incredibly harmful to overall health. If you are a regular smoker, you must have observed your teeth turning yellow, that’s because smoking decolourises the teeth.

You don’t want your family members to have a tainted smile, and nor do you yourself. Quitting smoking can take a while, but with enough effort, your family can be much healthier after a member says goodbye to this nasty habit. Or convenience anyone to do so.

Protect your teeth from grinding

Grinding of teeth, or bruxism is the constant grinding of teeth in sleep, mostly observed in children. Constant grinding or clenching of teeth can lead to a sore jaw or even cracks in teeth. It’s proportionally worse if any adult member who’s undergone dental treatments has the habit.

If you or any of your family members clench their teeth in their sleep, it's advised to get an occlusal splint.

How to ensure dental protection for Kids?

Teach them and be a role model

What’s more important than having a dental routine? Huh. Having a dental routine that’s right.

To ensure that the kids in your family are introduced to proper dental care early on, it’s your job to teach them. Start with teaching them to get a pie sized toothpaste on their toothbrush, and how to brush properly for 2 minutes.

And although you’ve taught them once, try your best to perform the routine together. As kids tend to imitate those they share time with, when you do it together they are habituated into following the routine diligently.

Make dental appointments & introduce rewards

Visit the dentist with your kids on a regular basis, preferably twice a year. When you do it for a bit, for the kids this activity becomes a ritual, and they are much more likely to carry the habit into their adulthood than otherwise.

After a dentist appointment, give your children a guilty pleasure that they don’t normally receive, ironically a chocolate bar perhaps. You can also make attempts to make brushing fun for kids if they don’t particularly enjoy it. The best suggestion would be to play a song every time you brush and to brush until the song is finished.

Get Sealants

By the age of 6 most kids get their permanent molars. At this time, you can consider the option of getting them sealed.

A sealant is a coating on the surface of the teeth that bonds according to the shape of the teeth and creates a protective shielding over the enamel. Basically, you seal out your teeth from any plaque protecting them from any potential tooth decay.

Eat nutritious food

Having a nutritious diet is recommended for everyone, but especially for kids. Food and drinks that are infused with sugar should be strictly restricted. They can cause cavities and damage the teeth in the long run.

If you follow everything mentioned in a dedicated manner, it’ll be all the dental care your family will need. For kids, in particular, it’s the early guidance that puts them on a path to follow a routine and achieve a perfect smile.