How many times have your parents asked you about brushing your teeth? Do they mention it every morning before you head out to school? Do they bring it up again right before you go to bed? While it may not seem like a big deal, it is so important that you take good care of your teeth! Even the baby teeth that you know are going to be falling out soon need to be kept clean! Here are a couple ways that you can take good care of your teeth:
Brushing and flossing are the most obvious ways that kids can care for their teeth. Did you know that just running a toothbrush over your front teeth isn’t enough? You should be brushing your teeth for at least two minutes, reaching all the way back to get your molars and even behind the teeth to get some of the hidden spaces that are often overlooked. Ask your parents if you can set a timer in the bathroom to keep track of the amount of time you spend brushing or sing a little song in your head while you brush away the bacteria and germs.
Once you are done brushing, there are still a few things that need to be done. Brushing takes away some of the leftover food from the surface of your teeth but sometimes things slip in between your teeth. If left there, the food can turn into a cavity! Dental floss is easy to use, once you get the hang of it. Just place the floss (it looks a lot like regular string) between your teeth and gently move it back and forth. Sometimes when you take a closer look at the floss, you can see some of the food. Gross! Finally, before you leave the sink, take some mouthwash and rinse your entire mouth, swishing the liquid all around. There are certain types of mouthwash that are perfect for kids and your parents will know exactly what to get at the store.
Even if you do a great job of taking care of your teeth, you still need to see a dentist every once in a while. These appointments are about taking a closer look at the teeth and making sure there are no problems that need to be addressed. If you’ve been following through with your brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, your dentist is sure to be impressed. The dentist will clean your teeth before you leave, just to remove some of the things you might have missed and you will be well on your way to a healthy smile!
