What Should Kids and Young People Do to Keep Their Gums Healthy?
Teeth and gum care are a window to the person’s over well-being. Dentists have reminded us time and again that dental hygiene doesn’t end with brushing your teeth. In fact, gum and teeth health are completely intertwined, such that neglecting gum care is likely to cause tooth decay and a host of other nasties. In this article, we are going to discuss gum health for children and young people.
Gum Care for Young People
Toddlers And Babies
After a baby has teethed, we suggest parents start implementing healthy dental practices. Brush their teeth gently, twice a day using a pea-sized amount of un-fluoridated toothpaste.
When round 2-3 years, one should teach their kid to brush. Use a brush with soft bristles. Sometimes children hate brushing because the paste tastes too strong. The market has available flavored kid’s toothpaste for precisely that.
Many toddlers insist on a bedtime bottle but understand that this practice deters oral development. The sugar from the milk is left in their mouth for the night. Bacteria feed on the glucose while the acids produced erode the enamel. If the child absolutely refuses to sleep without their bottle, one can replace the milk with water.
If a toddler has swollen, red gums when teething, parents should consult a dentist immediately.
Thumb sucking and pacifiers are common in babies, but they shouldn’t cause bite or alignment issues. A visit to the dentist can remedy this. Also, cleaning the pacifiers often will keep away bacteria and germs.
Young Children and Pre-pubescents
By age 3, most children will have all of their baby teeth. Around 6, the milk teeth will start falling off and by 13 the milk teeth will be completely replaced by a new set of permanent teeth. These are a rather active few years for a child’s teeth and thus dental hygiene is especially important.
This is when parents should start reinforcing healthy habits in their kids. Proper brushing twice a day is essential along with flossing. Parents must also look out if kids swallow the toothpaste.
In their preteens, a person becomes more aware of their appearance. Good oral health helps them look and feel better. Brushing twice daily and regular flossing are imperative. Around this time, you can get them electric toothbrushes.
Kids that wear braces should pay even more attention to their dental care. Brush gently but thoroughly and never skip flossing, lest you end up with white spots when the braces come off.
Teenagers And Young Adults
In a teenager, most of the permanent teeth have already come in (except the wisdom tooth). These teeth are going to last a lifetime making it important to take good care of them.
As always, brushing and flossing should never be neglected. A good toothbrush and fluoridated paste go a long way. Many teenagers are lured into whitening products but often, they display little change. There is nothing wrong with a whitening toothpaste if it has fluoride in it, but certain strips can cause sensitivity and gum irritation when used too frequently.
The hormonal changes that a teenage body goes through can leave their gums more susceptible to periodontal diseases. This problem is even furthered by the fact that many teenagers consume a diet heavy in fast food. Diet coke, coffee, candy, etc. are some common culprits.
As a teenager becomes young adult, they should continue practicing good dental hygiene. There isn’t much difference between taking care of teenage teeth and newly adult teeth except for incorporating the change in lifestyle.
Comprehensive Family Dentistry for Superior Dental Care
We are proud to house some of the best dentists and dental care professionals in the entirety of Oklahoma City. You can now book an appointment with us online! We also offer special membership plans to help those without insurance. Smile wide!
**Disclaimer: This content is not a professional dental or medical advice and does not imply a relationship between patient and care provider or the doctors.