Gum disease occurs in three stages, including gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. The disease typically begins at the gum and progresses to the bones that support and surround the teeth. Poor flossing and brushing are often the culprits, which may ultimately lead to plaque buildup. Over time, the plaque will harden and cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing. As you already know, the oral cavity is full of bacteria, which causes bad breath. These bacteria will bind with mucus and other particles, forming a colorless, sticky plaque on the teeth.
Know The Warning Signs
Parents are responsible for their child’s health, which is why it is so important to set good examples. If you brush and floss your teeth regularly, your children will follow suit. With this said, you must be aware of the warning signs to help your children prevent developing gum disease. Once you become familiar with these red flags, you will need to start teaching them to your children.
The warning signs of gum disease include swollen or red gums, bad breath that will not go away, pain when chewing, loose and sensitive teeth and receding and bleeding gums. If you detect any of these signs, you should immediately contact dental experts, such as those available at Markham Dental Hygiene & Wellness.
Get Your Kids On A Healthy Diet
Did you know your child’s diet could affect his or her gums and teeth? You probably know that stuffing your kids with candy isn’t good, but you might be surprised to learn that even unhealthy snacking and eating can have an adverse effect as well. The younger your children are when you introduce them to healthy foods, the less likely they will be to develop gum disease. Teach your children that milk is much healthier than soda. Show them that instead of feasting on a piece of sugary candy they can opt for crunchy vegetable sticks. Just be sure to prevent these healthy products in a fun and positive way, so that your kids will take to them right away.
Show Your Kids The Fun Side Of Oral Care
As a parent or guardian, you have probably already quickly realized that children respond best to positive approaches and reinforcement. If you are always on your kid’s back and nagging him or her to brush and floss, there is a good chance they are going to learn to hate the whole process. Instead, you need to take a more positive approach and make brushing and flossing fun. You can turn it into a game, place stickers on a calendar to get your kids excited about brushing, or you can play fun, upbeat music while brushing. The whole goal of the process is to get your child or children to associate oral hygiene with good and fun times.
Make Sure You Are Using Quality Oral Care Products
If you look in the oral hygiene aisle at the supermarket or at any retail store, you will be noticed that there is a variety of oral care products designed especially for children. There is a reason that these products exist, and it is because kids require different health care products than adults. For instance, an adult toothbrush might be too big for your child’s mouth and adult toothpaste might be too strong. All of these are things that can turn your child’s oral health experience into a negative one.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
