In the Know for You to Know

Tooth enamel is super hard. In fact enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. That’s right it’s stronger than bones.

Enamel has 3 important purposes. It protects the teeth from cavities (aka tooth decay), from hot and cold (foods and drinks) and fends off constant acid attacks (when we sip, eat and snack).

What we eat and drink is broken down into carbohydrates (aka sugars). The more often we eat and drink the more sugars we have in our mouth.

The more sugars we have in our mouth the more the bacteria in our mouth goes on a food frenzy. When the bacteria go on their feeding frenzy they release acids into our saliva.

These acids in our saliva mix with food particles in our mouth and form plaque. Plaque is that sticky white stuff that sticks to tooth enamel and tongues.

What’s A Tooth To Do?

Plaque keeps on accumulating until it’s brushed away. It’s the acids in the plaque that gnaw away at the tooth enamel over time.

It’s like a tug of war with 2 things going on at the same time. There’s demineralization where the plaque acids are weakening the enamel. There’s remineralization when toothbrushing and fluoride toothpaste strengthen the enamel by replacing the lost minerals.

When Is All This Happening?

During sleep our body makes less saliva, and the bacteria sit in our mouth and on our teeth.

The mouth is a warm, moist place which the bacteria love, and produce more acids.

If we go to sleep without brushing our teeth, the bacteria have more sugars to eat and put our teeth at risk for more demineralization.

How to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Strong

For healthy teeth it’s about increasing remineralization and minimizing demineralization.

Boosting the remineralization process is about amazing oral hygiene habits and a healthy diet.

Tips To Keep The Sugar Bugs Away

6 Months – 2 Years Old

If your baby is given a bottle when going to sleep make sure Only Water is in their bottle.

Bottles that have any sugary liquids or carbohydrates – like milk, formula, fruit juice keep their teeth under bacterial acid attack all night long.

2 – 5 Years Old

When 2 teeth are touching it’s time to start Flossing.

When you’re toothbrushing and flossing their teeth make sure there aren’t any left overs. Sugar bugs love their late night snack!

School Aged Children

Brush your child’s teeth Twice A Day. Once in the morning and Once at night.

Twice a day is better but if you need to pick one time, the most important time to brush your child’s teeth is Right Before Bedtime After you Floss their Teeth.

Remember, sugar bugs look forward to their nightly snack!

Tweens And Teens

Remember to brush with a fluoride toothpaste Once in the morning and Once at night, and Floss (around every tooth) before their night time brushing.

The same way their appetite’s have increased, so have the sugar bug’s for their nightly snack!

What To Remember

There you have it! 5 reliable ways to healthy tooth enamel.

By toothbrushing twice a day and flossing every night, rinsing with water after every meal and snack, eating a well balanced diet, and seeing your pediatric dentist for regular checkups, you’re helping to keep those sugar bugs away from your child’s teeth.

How do you keep the sugar bugs away? What are your successful tips and tricks to win the remineralization game? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Email us at kidstoothhotline@proton.me and Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!