PARENTS CAN DO a few different things to give their kids’ smiles a healthy start.

1. Find an Effective Toothbrush They Like

It should have soft, polished bristles and be the right size for their hands and mouths, but otherwise, they might like one with their favorite cartoon character on it. Make sure to replace it when the bristles fray!

2. Prevent Cavities With Sealants

Sealants are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, particularly for kids with a history of tooth decay already. They greatly reduce the risk of childhood tooth decay.

3. Provide Teeth-Friendly Snacks Like Fruit and Cheese

Whole or sliced fruit is a great mouth-healthy snack because the fibers help scrub the teeth clean. Cheese is a good source of calcium and stimulates saliva production. (We need saliva for neutralizing harmful acids and clearing away food debris.)

4. Manage Expectations for Whitening Toothpaste

As much as we would all love having pearly-white teeth, make sure the teens know that whitening toothpaste only contains abrasives and polishing agents to remove surface stains, not deeper ones or white spots.

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.