Canadian kids can do a lot of crazy things to damage their teeth, as any dentist in Toronto will tell you. Here is a list of things that you should discourage your kids from doing, to help protect their teeth and gums:
1. Chewing on pencil erasers until the eraser comes out: the metal end of the pencil can scratch and chip their teeth and cut their gums;
2. Getting lip piercings: The items worn can chip their teeth;
3. Using pencil, pen and needle points to pick food out of their teeth;
4. Not wearing the appropriate protective head gear and mouth guards when participating in sports activities;
5. Removing bottle caps or opening pop cans with their teeth;
6. Frequently sucking on lollipops or other hard candies;
7. Drinking sports drinks and sodas excessively – drink water instead;
8. Neglecting to brush and floss their teeth before they go to bed;
Encourage your children and teenagers to take regular, proper care of their teeth and gums and make regular visits to the dentist. Should they sustain an injury to their teeth or gums they should get the problem taken care of by their dentist in Toronto immediately, even if the injury hasn’t caused them any serious pain.
Cuts on the gums can lead to infection, and scratches and cracks on teeth can bring on cavities or, more seriously, broken teeth.
Positive steps
Parents help when they:
- Have a good quality floride toothpaste always available.
- Make sure that toothbrushes are the appropriate size for their children’s ages, stages and any other special needs.
- Get a wide dental floss so it can be handled easier and reduce the risk of their children cutting their gums.
- Replace their toothbrushes regularly to protect gums from being scratched by ’shaggy dog’ toothbrushes.
It’s also good to encourage your children to rinse their mouths after they eat, and to drink plenty of water during the day to flush food residue out of their mouths. For more tips on what you can provide your children with for further oral protection consult your local dentist in Toronto.
