Did you know that February is recognized as National Children’s Dental Health Month? As such, there’s no better time to stop and appreciate your little one’s precious smile. It’s important that you give your child the right tools to keep their oral health on track as they grow, especially if they’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. Not only will the right products make their oral hygiene habits more effective, but they can even make daily dental care fun! Here are some fun new products to try this February to keep your little one’s smile happy and healthy.
Terrific Toothbrushes
The first tool that comes to practically everyone’s mind when they think of dental care is the toothbrush. For National Children’s Dental Health Month, why not give your child’s toothbrush an upgrade? There are a wide variety of toothbrushes that are designed to make brushing during orthodontic treatment easy, including:
- Electric toothbrushes: Some electric toothbrushes are specifically designed to clean around wires and brackets, and many come with features like timers and lights to help your child brush for a full two minutes.
- Interdental brushes: For a more convenient way to clean between orthodontics and teeth, try interdental brushes. These little brushes come in both reusable and disposable versions and are very easy to use.
- Travel toothbrushes: Whether your child has traditional braces or Invisalign (or anything in between), they should keep a travel-sized toothbrush with them for easy on-the-go cleaning.
Tasty Toothpaste & Mouthwash
Getting your child excited about brushing their teeth could be as easy as trying a new toothpaste or adding a new mouthwash, like:
- Flavored toothpaste: As long as it has the ADA Seal of Approval, you can pick out a children’s toothpaste in fun flavors like vanilla, chocolate, bubblegum, citrus, and many more.
- Orthodontic mouthwash: Some mouthwashes are designed for braces. They’re typically fluoridated, alcohol-free, and contain soothing elements like aloe.
Fantastic Flossing Tools
Flossing can be an awkward task for anyone, especially if they have braces! Thankfully, there are plenty of tools out there that can make flossing around wires and brackets a breeze, like:
- Orthopick flosser:s Not only can these flossers make it much easier to floss between all your child’s teeth, but they’re designed to fit between the teeth and wires as well.
- Threaders or pre-threaded flossers: These small loop-like tools are another great way to help your little one clean their gums from underneath their braces wires.
- Water flossers: Water-based flossers are slightly more expensive, but touted by parents and patients alike as one of the most efficient and comfortable ways to clean between braces.
Great oral hygiene is always important, but even more so for children undergoing orthodontic treatment! Remember, the healthy dental habits you instill in them now can set them up for a lifetime of great oral health!
About the Practice
Cleburne’s #1 orthodontist Dr. James A. Hart has been providing excellent, gentle orthodontic care since 1978. He stays current with all the latest advancements in order to offer a wide range of effective treatments for smiles of all ages. He and his talented team have plenty of experience serving young patients and helping make their orthodontic treatments go as smoothly as possible. For more recommendations on the best dental hygiene products for your child with braces, he can be contacted via his website or at (817) 645-2432.