Helping Your Children Prevent Gum Disease & Gingivitis

Luckily, gum disease and gingivitis are both very easy to prevent. The biggest threat to your child’s vulnerable gum tissue is bad at-home oral hygiene habits. Even if you believe that you help your children follow an optimal dental hygiene routine, you may want to peruse this article to find tips or tricks to help keep your children gingivitis-free!

Good Oral Hygiene

The best way to protect your mouth from gum disease, gingivitis, and periodontitis is to practice good hygiene at home. You can help your children build a solid foundation by teaching them good habits and reinforcing those habits by practicing them yourself. Below are a few ways to make sure your family’s oral hygiene is top notch!

• Brushing – We all know the regular brushing techniques. For example, you probably already know that your child should be brushing at least twice a day for two minutes at a time. However, it’s also important to make sure your child is using a soft-bristled toothbrush and brushing gently, as any abrasions to the gum tissue can cause recession and, in turn, gum disease. Additionally, teach your children to angle their brush at a 45-degree angle toward the gums.
• Flossing – Flossing should be done at least once a day and is perhaps your best defense against gum disease. Teach your children to wrap the floss around the sides of each tooth in a C shape and slide the floss up and down a few times. Interdental brushes or water flossers can provide an even more thorough clean.
• Good Habits – Good habits such as a healthy, balanced diet and visiting the dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and an exam can go a long way toward preventing gum disease.

If your child has a strong foundation for good oral hygiene, his or her chances of developing gum disease decrease dramatically. For more information on childhood gum disease and how to prevent it, or if you need to schedule your child’s regular dental cleaning and exam, please contact Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our kids dental office is located here in Firestone, Colorado.