Tooth Fairy here!
Listen up; I’ve got some news to share. As you all know, I nightly travel the globe in search of pearly white baby teeth — a job, I might add, made possible by all of my cool techno gadgets! I love the quest, but lately I’ve been seeing a disturbing trend: cavities. This has got to stop! And not just because it’s grossing me out!
Don’t delay! Take this very second to remind your kiddos to brush and floss. Even better: brush and floss your own chunks of calcium in front of your kids, as doing so will give you an opportunity to have a chat about the importance of good dental care.
And remember: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which is the perfect time to get your kids in front of a dentist if it’s been a while. From my own dentist, I’ve learned the following toothy tips:
• As soon as teeth appear in your baby’s mouth, it’s time to start the ritual of tooth cleaning. For babies, use a clean soft cloth, but youngsters should use a small-headed toothbrush, always with soft bristles, to brush before school and right before they hit the sack.
• Keep in mind that children under two years of age should never be given toothpaste with flouride. Face it: toothpaste tastes sweet, so youngsters like to swallow it. Alot. But doing so can cause a condition called flourosis, which produces ugly white patches on teeth.
• Even older children should use toothpaste sparingly. Think “pea” when helping yours squeeze the paste out of the tube. A pea-size dollop is plenty.
• It takes kids years of practice to perfect their twice-daily brushing and flossing technique. So help your children brush until they’re about eight years old. Teach them to gently brush their tongue and gums too. Kids don’t want to pal around with other kids who have bad breath!
• Take a pass on the habit of rinsing. Have your kids carefully spit out all toothpaste in their mouths, but don’t finish up with a swig of water. Any remaining tooth paste residue is a good thing, as it will help to protect your tyke’s teeth until their next meal. That’s like working out without flexing a single muscle!
• Lastly, train your kids to drink — and prefer — water. Sweet drinks such as juices and soda are cavity magnets. You wouldn’t let your kid suck on lollypops all day, would you? No! So why let them coat their teeth with high-sugar drinks throughout the day?
Thanks for your help!
Tooth Fairy
Listen up; I’ve got some news to share. As you all know, I nightly travel the globe in search of pearly white baby teeth — a job, I might add, made possible by all of my cool techno gadgets! I love the quest, but lately I’ve been seeing a disturbing trend: cavities. This has got to stop! And not just because it’s grossing me out!
Don’t delay! Take this very second to remind your kiddos to brush and floss. Even better: brush and floss your own chunks of calcium in front of your kids, as doing so will give you an opportunity to have a chat about the importance of good dental care.
And remember: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which is the perfect time to get your kids in front of a dentist if it’s been a while. From my own dentist, I’ve learned the following toothy tips:
• As soon as teeth appear in your baby’s mouth, it’s time to start the ritual of tooth cleaning. For babies, use a clean soft cloth, but youngsters should use a small-headed toothbrush, always with soft bristles, to brush before school and right before they hit the sack.
• Keep in mind that children under two years of age should never be given toothpaste with flouride. Face it: toothpaste tastes sweet, so youngsters like to swallow it. Alot. But doing so can cause a condition called flourosis, which produces ugly white patches on teeth.
• Even older children should use toothpaste sparingly. Think “pea” when helping yours squeeze the paste out of the tube. A pea-size dollop is plenty.
• It takes kids years of practice to perfect their twice-daily brushing and flossing technique. So help your children brush until they’re about eight years old. Teach them to gently brush their tongue and gums too. Kids don’t want to pal around with other kids who have bad breath!
• Take a pass on the habit of rinsing. Have your kids carefully spit out all toothpaste in their mouths, but don’t finish up with a swig of water. Any remaining tooth paste residue is a good thing, as it will help to protect your tyke’s teeth until their next meal. That’s like working out without flexing a single muscle!
• Lastly, train your kids to drink — and prefer — water. Sweet drinks such as juices and soda are cavity magnets. You wouldn’t let your kid suck on lollypops all day, would you? No! So why let them coat their teeth with high-sugar drinks throughout the day?
Thanks for your help!
Tooth Fairy
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