Helping Kids Protect Their Smiles From Home

Posted September 11, 2025

With good oral hygiene habits, you can help kids of all ages enjoy better oral health, reducing the risk of issues like tooth decay. Which is why we want to talk about proper brushing and flossing, and other tips for improving oral health. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about helping kids from home! With the right oral hygiene habits, kids can protect their smiles from major complications, and gain positive habits that will help them in their teen and adult years too!

Brushing and Flossing

How soon should kids brush? Well, as soon as the first tooth arrives! For babies, parents can gently clean their teeth with a cloth or possibly a toothbrush that fits over their finger. As they age, they can upgrade to an age-appropriate toothbrush for toddlers. You assist your kids in the early stages, and eventually they take over brushing for themselves. But monitor them to ensure they clean for two minutes in the morning and at night.

Each time, be sure they use a toothpaste with fluoride, as this helps strengthen the outer enamel and make cavities less likely. Kids under the age of three need a rice-sized amount of toothpaste, while kids of the age of three should use a pea-sized amount. Your little ones also need to floss once there are teeth sitting side-by-side, as this removes what a toothbrush cannot reach. You can assist them with picks, and as their dexterity improves, they can move on to string or tape. Be sure you (or them) move the floss up and down each side of every tooth, dipping beneath the gum line to extract trapped particles. Flossing is even more vital than brushing, and this should happen every evening before your little ones brush that second time, so brushing can help clear way the removed particles.

Avoiding Too Much Sugar and Starch

When children eat foods and drink beverages with a lot of sugar, or consume meals high in starch, this leaves behind particles that cling to the teeth and become stuck between them. They are then consumed by bacteria to create plaque and tartar buildup, which weakens enamel and makes cavities more likely. Try to cut back on the sugar in their diets, and encourage them to drink more water and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables! You can offer them whole grain breads and crackers, dairy products like cheese and low-fat yogurt, and even nuts. Be aware of seeing healthy items that could be a source of tooth decay, such as dried fruits and fruit juice! Sports drinks may seem healthy because they have electrolytes and hydrate, but they also contain harmful acids that combined with the dry mouth that often accompanies exercise could increase the risk of tooth decay.

When to See Our Team

We want to see your children within six months of the first baby tooth’s arrival, and once they turn two we want to see them every six months for a checkup and cleaning. These routine visits allow us to remove all plaque and tartar completely with a cleaning, and we can monitor the smile to watch for the early signs of issues like tooth decay or misalignment. We can then create a treatment plan to bring relief and protect their smiles from painful symptoms or premature tooth loss.

But if they complain about a toothache or if a tooth is injured, please contact us right away for an examination. Persistent pain could include a cavity or infection, and even minor damage could increase the risks of tooth decay. We offer emergency dental care, so you can see us sometimes same-day or at least as soon as possible, so we can offer treatment and prevent major complications. If you have any questions about improving your child’s oral hygiene habits, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to work with you and your children to help safeguard smiles of all ages, from babies and toddlers to kids and teens, so they can smile with confidence each and every day!

PDC Kids Provides Pediatric Dentistry

With good homecare habits and routine visits to our office, we can help your children maintain good oral health. These actions are crucial for avoiding the onset of issues like tooth decay and gingivitis, keeping smiles healthy and whole. To find out more about the process of protecting little smiles, call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880. Working together, we can ensure your little ones enjoy bright and beautiful smiles, and gain a better understanding of their own smiles and the importance of routine care for their teeth and gums.