Dental Health Tips from Infancy to Adulthood with Arm & Hammer

Good dental health habits need to start at a young age. In fact, they need to start earlier than you might think: before your baby even pops that first tooth! The right habits can mean the difference between coping with traumatizing dental visits and having a healthy smile.

Trust me, I know! My son has his father’s teeth problems. Even though I work hard to get him following good dental health habits, he still manages to miss some areas. By age 6, he had a crown and four fillings! I had to take him over an hour away to get them done because he needed to be knocked out to let them in his mouth! Luckily for us, the maker of Arm & Hammer(tm) has come up with creative ways to keep you brushing through every stage of life – from infants and toddlers through to your teens and adulthood.

How to Encourage Good Dental Health from Infancy to Adulthood

 

Caring for your infant’s dental health:

When you bring home your newborn, I’m sure the last thing you’re thinking about is how to care for her teeth. I know I didn’t even think about it until well after the first tooth came in. Then my son’s doctor told me I should have been prepping for good dental health habits from day one. Tips for doing that include:

•  Starting early – Even before all the teeth appear you can get your infant used to brushing with Baby Orajel(tm) Tooth & Gum Cleanser with Finger Brush.

• Create a positive environment – Your infant may be a little freaked out the first few times you clean his teeth.  Be sure to create a relaxing and positive environment and do not force tooth brushing when they are uncomfortable.

Toddler Tips:

Toddlers are curious and incredibly observant, unfortunately at this age they don’t truly understand the importance of brushing their teeth. There are a few things you can do to keep them engaged:

• Play – At this stage, making brushing as fun as possible is the key to success! Embrace the love for their favourite character or TV shows, like Orajel(tm) Bubble Guppies(tm) toothbrush and toothpaste, to encourage them to brush.

• Establish a routine – Who said brushing needs to be boring? You can decide when it’s best for your little one to brush their teeth and if this means in the bathtub when they are playful or right before bed, when they are sleepy – it’s whatever works for you!

As they grow: tips for children

As children grow, it can become increasingly difficult to encourage them to continue brushing twice a day to avoid the sugar bugs ruining their teeth. Sometimes, finding a solution can really be quite simple.

•  Let your children choose their toothbrush – Kids love having choices. It speaks to their independent side! Take them along to the store and let them pick out their own toothbrush. Brushing with the Arm & Hammer(tm) Spinbrush(tm) Super Mario Power Brush will bring your kids to the next level of brushing, a reward equivalent to beating game levels.

• Lead by example – If your children don’t see you brushing your teeth, they’re not going to believe you when you tell them how important good dental health is for their own smile. Showing them how to brush and setting a positive example will help them understand the importance of proper care.

Teen and Adult Tips:

As teens and adults we only have one set of teeth to work with and maintain – this makes the importance of proper care that much greater. You begin to really appreciate the importance of a radiant smile, which is proven by doctors to boost confidence and overall health*. In your search for ways to keep those pearly whites bright, look for added benefits in your oral hygiene routine:

• Pick the right toothpaste – You’re on your final set of teeth, treating them with kindness and respect will get you far. Look for toothpaste that strengthens your enamel, while still whitening your teeth. Arm & Hammer(tm) Truly Radiant(tm) toothpaste is formulated with baking soda, peroxide and liquid calcium – the perfect trio, giving teeth both strength and beauty. I personally love it because it cleans without a sting.

• Take brushing up a notch – With Arm & Hammer(tm) Spinbrush(tm) Truly Radiant(tm) brushes, removing more plaque just got easier. The elongated bristles allow you to maneuver those hard to reach areas, ensuring you’ve cleaned every nook and cranny of your mouth for a thorough clean and bright white smile.

Bet you want to go brush your teeth now, don’t you? What do you do to encourage good dental health habits in your kids?

This post is brought to you by Arm & Hammer. All opinions are our own.