New Parents: 5 Oral Health Tips To Share

September 22, 2022September 21, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Once your baby comes you’re going to be busy. As a parent you have so many responsibilities. Let’s face it, teeth sometimes fall to the bottom of the list.

So we’ve put together some tips to help you seamlessly incorporate dental health into your new daily routine.

Tip 1 Mom and Dad, you and your baby share everything.

If you have cavities, then you also have the bacteria in your mouth that causes them. These bacteria can be passed from your mouth to your baby’s mouth and increase their risk of having cavities. Think giving kisses, licking spoons, and licking pacifiers.

Oral health is always a work in progress, so think about your own healthy smile early on.

Tip 2 Take care of your baby’s teeth before they come into their mouth.

Whether you bottle feed, breast feed, or a combination of both, what’s important is that you wipe your baby’s gums and lips after each feeding and before naps and bedtime. Their mouth is a warm moist place, the milk (or formula) contains sugar, and bacteria love both so they can grow.

When wiping your baby’s gums and lips use a soft lightly wet washcloth. Gently go over their top and bottom gum pads and gingerly move their lips so you have their gums in full view (this is called – Lift the Lip). Then wipe their lips from the inside to the outside.

Tip 3 Don’t let your child fall asleep with a bottle or while breast feeding.

Of course this can happen and the milk bubbles they make with their lips is so adorable. While this looks super cute the sugar in the milk helps to cause cavities (which are not so cute). Even with your best efforts to avoid this, if it does happen, wipe their gum pads and lips with a soft damp washcloth.

Keep extra washcloths at the ready in a separate compartment of your diaper bag so if this happens when you’re out and about you’ll be prepared.

Tip 4 What to do when your baby starts teething.

Baby’s can start teething when they are between 4 and 6 months old. Some baby’s can be older and some can be younger. You can rub their gums with your clean fingers or with a cool washcloth that you hold.

It’s a good idea to stay away from those liquid teething medicines (since they can burn their tender gums), teething rings, teething beads and teething necklaces.

Teething itself doesn’t cause a fever or diarrhea. Check with your Pediatrician if your baby develops a fever, diarrhea, or looks sick.

Tip 5 Baby Teeth are important.

Not all baby teeth are the same. Some teeth go to the tooth fairy when your child is much older, like 13 to 15 years old.

Baby teeth allow your child to chew their food and speak clearly. Very importantly they provide the place for adult teeth to grow in healthy and in proper position.

Remember, your oral health matters. A healthy mouth for mommy and daddy means a healthy start for your baby.

Tell us some of your tooth care tips –

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

Tips On Proper Tooth Brushing Technique

Laughing and Smiling Brushing Teeth With Daddy

September 15, 2022September 14, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Back to school means there is a lot of learning going on right now! We thought we would add a lesson in ourselves.

Today we’re going over the proper tooth brushing technique. So grab your tooth brushes, and put our knowledge into action.

Why Is It Important To Brush?

Tooth brushing is the best way to remove plaque from your child’s teeth and gums to help prevent cavities. Remember it’s 2Minutes 2X’s A Day.

What is Dental Plaque?

Dental plaque is the sticky stuff that adheres to teeth and forms after eating and drinking every day. The less often you brush the more it accumulates. The more it grows on teeth the higher the risk of cavities.

Steps For Brushing Your Way To Healthy Teeth

Mommy and Daddy are Watching How I Brush My Teeth

My Mom Is Teaching Me How To Brush My Teeth

Step 1. For a gentle and through tooth brush cleaning always use a small head soft bristle tooth brush,

Step 2. Starting on the Outside of your child’s Front Teeth – Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line and move around the tooth in little circles,

Step 3. Keep going around as you move towards the Outside of the Back Teeth and keep the brush going in the same way,

Step 4. Now turn the brush onto the Inside of the Back Teeth and keep going along in circles as you come up to the Front Teeth,

Step 5. When you come to the Inside of the Top and Bottom Front Teeth turn your brush vertically and keep brushing in circles up and down the tooth,

Step 6. Now it’s onto those Chewing Surfaces where you’ll hold the brush flat and brush in a gentle back and forth motion, and don’t forget

Step 7. Gently brush their tongue to remove food particles and freshen breath.

How Much Toothpaste Should I Put On My Child’s Tooth Brush?

It doesn’t take that much toothpaste to brush their whole mouth and tongue.

Your child is younger than 3 years old use a rice-grain size (think teeny tiny dab) of toothpaste.

If your child is 3 years old to 6 years old use a small pea size amount of toothpaste.

When your child is over 6 years old you can still use a small pea size amount of toothpaste and really don’t need much more than a regular pea size amount of paste as they get older (yes even for tweens and teens).

Daddy Put A Pea Size Amount Of Toothpaste On My Tooth Brush

Grandma Is Showing Me How Much Toothpaste Goes On My Brush

How Often Do I Need To Change Our Tooth Brushes?

2 good rules to follow is every 3 to 4 months because the tooth brush bristles start to wear out and fray so they become less effective for brushing, or if your child has been sick.

Tooth Brush Size Makes All The Difference

Love Brushing It's Time To Change My Tooth Brush

Tooth Brushing Can Be Fun

Playing your child’s favorite music during tooth brushing time helps make the time fly by.

Tell us about your tooth brushing routine or favorite tunes you like to play.

Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.com or Message us and Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

Happy ToothsDay

September 8, 2022September 7, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

We’re celebrating ToothsDay today

Did you know that today, September 8th is ToothsDay? Yes it is!

Today is the day we celebrate everything about teeth. No matter getting teeth, baby teeth, grownup teeth, teeth for biting into food, teeth for chewing food, teeth for talking, teeth for smiling, teeth for flossing, teeth for brushing.

Here are 3 great ways to celebrate Toothsday and give your child their best smile —

1. Mirror Mirror on the Wall – looking in the mirror to make sure you floss and brush away all the food and sugar that sticks to your child’s teeth and tongue is a great way to teach healthy habits. 2 Minutes 2X’s a day keeps the sugar bugs away.

2. Sweets are treats. There are so many goodies to choose from so keep an eye on snacking and drink choices. With sugar less is more.

3. Celebrate ToothsDay and National School Pictures Day together. That’s right, both are celebrated on September 8th. Pick out your child’s perfect outfit, work on that awesome hairstyle, and practice their best and brightest smile. Mom and Dad you remember this from your childhood, now it’s time for your child to go in front of the camera, think about the deep sense of pride and joy this brings to you.

Today is all about making memories and beautiful smiles together.

Tell us how you celebrated Toothsday.

Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.com, Message us and Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

Healthy Back To School Snacks For Healthy Teeth

September 1, 2022August 31, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Back to school with my favorite lunchtime snack

The annual ritual for back to school is here. Daycare, Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, High School – your school year schedule is back.

For the last few weeks so many of you have been out there checking off clothing and school supply lists. Finding the perfect outfit for 1st day pictures, school pictures and practicing your child’s adorable smile.

While you were busily hunting for the treasured lunch box your child has been asking for, you were also planning what you were going to be packing into it for snacks and lunch that meet your child’s seal of approval.

You know it is important for your child to have a healthy balanced diet. Snacks and lunch at school need to provide a good source of protein, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and grains.

If your child purchases their school lunches this is a great opportunity for you both to have a conversation about healthy food choices. If vending machines line the hallways or lunch room at your tween’s or teenager’s school, this is a good time to sit down and discuss healthy selections.

What are some good choices to include in their lunch box?

Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com
Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Pexels.com

Sticky and chewy snacks need an upgrade. Fresh fruit and veggies are always flavorful and appealing. Have your child help you select their apple, pear, strawberries, orange, grapes. To make eating them more fun for your child to eat you can pre-peel a Clementine or Mandarin Orange, or cut their fruit and veggies into different shapes with your cookie cutters.

Know what goes great with fruit and is good for teeth? Cheese! The calcium in cheese is healthy for growing teeth and growing bones. So it’s a win-win 2 for 1.

When thinking about bread and crackers, whole grains are a great addition to stay on that healthy track.

A healthy drink to wash down a good lunch and snacks is water. Drinking regular plain old water is best. It’s best to avoid juice boxes and soda. To encourage your child to drink more water try having them select their own water bottle. With some reminding they’ll be more likely to bring it along on all your outings.

You’ll be surprised how satisfied your child is with their lunch and snacks, and how happy you are knowing they are eating healthy.

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

Your New Nightly Bedtime Brushing Routine for the New School Year

August 25, 2022August 24, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

I can’t wait to show my Teacher my shiny new teeth!

In the Know for You to Know

Making sure your child starts and ends the day in a healthy way! Brushing for 2 Minutes 2 Times a Day makes for a happy and healthy smile for everyone.

With the new school year here you want to brush up on your tooth brushing habits. The best way to start is with spiffing up your night time brushing. To do this all you and your child have to remember are the 4B’s.

That’s right, the 4B’s are the key to a pleasant and consistent bed time routine, so that this is a time for both of you to enjoy together.

By incorporating these 4B’s you are turning challenges into an easy routine and protecting those little teeth in a big way.

So What Are The 4B’s?

The 4B’s are …. Bath, Brush, Book, Bed

Bath bath time – a warm bath along with comfy and cozy pj’s encourages your child to start to relax and wind down from the day.

Brush brushing time – 2 Minutes with a soft wet wash cloth or a soft toothbrush while singing your favorite brushing song puts brushing in a whole new light, stress free. Remember, nothing to eat or drink afterwards keeps the sugar bugs away.

Book book time – children love the sound of their parents voice. Spend time together reading a good night book, singing, acting out stories, or simply talking. Then as your child gets sleepy it’s book away and into their comfy snuggly bed.

Bed bed time – hugs and kisses for sweet dreams and restful nights with clean sparkling teeth.

You Have The POWER

What makes your 4B routine powerful is how you do this. Be consistent in your timing so you have enough time between when you start and your child’s bed time. Pretty soon your diligence will rub off on your child and they will be reminding you.

Tell us about your 4B routine! Send us an email (kidstoothhotline@protonmail.com), or on facebook (www.facebook.com/kidstoothhotline) We’d love to hear from you.

Happy New School Year!

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

Keeping Teeth Healthy This Summer

June 22, 2022 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

It’s SUMMER!

Thank You Mommy and Daddy, I love my beautiful Smile

School’s out, Camp and Vacations are in. Long lazy days, family traditions, and fun times are here!

While you’re having fun you can also keep up your families good habits (or tweaking not so good ones) like your balanced diet and oral hygiene routine. This way those eagerly awaited treats taste extra special.

Keep a Routine

Start with putting together your summer dental kit – toothpaste, floss, tooth brush, finger brush, wash cloths.

While you’re doing your regular grocery shopping be on the look out for their fun flavor tooth paste or a tooth brush with their favorite character.

This way if schedule changes disrupt your habits you’re prepared and can start up where you left off.

Also keep in mind that bottles and sippy cups may be good for comforting a tired child, however falling asleep with one in their mouth increases their risk of cavities.

My toothbrush is in my Daddy’s knapsack

Healthy Diet = Healthy Teeth = Happy Family

Those fun foods your child always looks forward to are a special part of summer. Adding them to their healthy diet of fresh fruits, fresh veggies, whole grains, plain milk and water, go a long way to helping you decrease their cavity risk. And they are an incentive for your child to eat the way you want them to (Added Bonus!).

Sticky, Gooey, Chewy

Gooey, sticky and chewy are fun to eat, not so much fun to brush away from teeth.

Yes it’s about those candy apples from the specialty shop you always seem to go to, and the taffy at the seashore which are talked about for days before you get there. Or it’s the ice cream cone with the crunchies on top from the ice cream man coming down the street playing his familiar and anticipated summer tune that your child looks forward to every day.

While these are amazingly delicious and we all love them, the stickier, gooey, chewier and crunchier foods tend to stick into the nooks and crannies of teeth and are really hard to brush out and away.

What to do? Let’s face it when your child is enjoying these treats it is not always at a time you can take out the floss and tooth brush. When you can it is definitely best to do so. If changing your fun food selection is not possible then drinking water will help dilute all that sugar and also help wash away the food on the surface. Perhaps your child is okay with trying something else (think new family tradition), then chocolate (with no mix ins) is a good option since it is smooth and will slide off their teeth.