Keeping Children's Teeth Healthy And Why Fluoride Is Important

Have you ever looked at one of your old high school yearbooks and noticed how many kids wore braces? Nowadays, you don't see as many kids wearing braces on their teeth. Why is that? The reason is more parents take their children to the orthodontist at an early age.

It is estimated that about 4 million children under the age of 17 now visit an orthodontist regularly. The majority of children who receive this dental care are between the ages of 9 - 14. Orthodontist will place braces on a children's teeth at a very young age. It may be due to the patient and their individual problem. Sometimes braces will even make corrections in a child's jaw. By doing this, it may help their adult teeth grow into proper position.

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The best time to get your child braces, is during the child's growth spurt and when their permanent teeth are ready to come in. If you have a child facing similar circumstances about braces, there are a few things you should ask the dentist.

• How long will they have to wear braces? 2 years is a typical amount of time to wear braces and slowly correct problems.
• Will there be any pain? It usually does not hurt at all to place the braces on. By the next day however, it's normal for the teeth to become sore.
  

These days, braces come in many different varieties. The most popular with kids are the ones that offer different colors. The colors on the braces are usually small plastic modules. These modules help to hold the wire to the braces. It's more fun for the kids.

Kids also love fun foods like candy and sweets. Wearing braces may limit what a child can eat. The following foods may cause trouble.

• Hard foods. Hard foods can loosen wires and bend them.
• Sticky foods. Sticky foods can can bend wires and pull them loose.
• Food high in sugar. Avoid these foods. If you can't, make sure children brush their teeth as soon as possible after eating.
• Avoid popcorn and chips. These foods can easily get stuck under the wire of braces.
  

Proper hygiene is an essential element to getting that perfect smile. Children with braces must floss, brush and visit their dentist regularly. Make sure your child brushes their teeth properly. The teeth must be cleaned but the child needs to brush around each individual brace to clean off all the food residue.

No matter how much you brush, braces can sometimes lead to staining or discoloration. Teeth whiteners can be a viable solution. One good product to try to whiten the teeth is Crest Teeth Whitening strips. Most over the counter bleaching products may be used. They are found to be safe.

Kid's and sports go hand-in-hand. Should a parent be concerned if their child wears braces and participates in sports? Young athletes need tooth protection during these activities. A  child mouth guard is highly recommended.

Fluoride is one of the most important ways to keep our children's teeth healthy. Luckily, almost all children's toothpaste comes with fluoride.  A lot of parents think that putting a big gob of toothpaste on a child's toothbrush gives them more fluoride. The truth of the matter is that your child only needs a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush. Kid's will swallow a lot of toothpaste. If you only use that much, it's ok if the child swallows some.

The same fluoride that resists tooth decay can also cause stains. If a child swallows too much fluoride, it can get into their bloodstream. When their new teeth come in, it can cause brown and yellow stains on their teeth.

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