Five things to do to keep your child's teeth bright and healthy #TridentSAA

As a parent, we want our kids to have the perfect smile we may no longer have!  For me, I fear cavities for my kids, not only for the expense, but because I want them to have healthy smiles that give them confidence.  Sometimes as parents, we're just so overwhelmed with our life that we don't always keep on our kids to brush and floss.  I know I'm guilty!  We nag on our kids to take care of their toys, to pick them up off the floor, and then when bed time is getting pushed past the normal limits, we're tempted to just say "floss tomorrow" instead of taking that extra minute to get the job done right. 

Here are five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright!

• Keep an eye on pencils.  Nibblers can damage their teeth, causing expensive dental visits to repair teeth. Trust me on this one. My daughter narrowly missed a kiddie root canal and thankfully that well-filled tooth left with the Tooth Fairy a while back!

• Keep an eye on brushing time.  Kids are notorious for wanting to git er done!  They will try to sneak off having spent the least amount of time on cleaning their teeth as they can get away with.  Some toothbrushes have a timer, but if you don't have one of those toothbrushes, you can always set the kitchen timer.  My stove has a really loud timer that I use for a lot of things at my house.

• Keep your eyes out for cruddies.  After they brush, inspect.  If you see plaque or other food particles still hanging out in there, send them back for a re-do. Keep sending them back if they don't pass inspection.  Eventually they'll learn to take the time to do it right the first time.

• Keep up with your own dental health.  Show your kids how important it is to take care of their teeth by taking care of your own.  Setting a good example is key!  Also, always try to paint the dentist in the most positive light possible.  If your kids hear you whining about going to the dentist, they'll do it too!

• Keep staining juices (dark grape juice comes to mind) to a minimum if your child's teeth grow dim after a cleaning.  If they do love the grape, have them brush afterward.  Adults are supposed to avoid wines that stain, so it just makes sense that kids should avoid beverages that stain their teeth too.

Do you have anything special that you do with your kids to help their smile stay healthy and dazzling?  Let me know!  Leave a comment.  I'm all about sharing things that work (and things that don't!)

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Also, from September 13-19, for every pack of Trident gum you buy, 5 cents will be donated by Trident to Oral Health America's Smiles Across America program.  For more information about this event or to brush up on dental health news, please visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org.