Children’s teeth cleaning routines during Coronavirus disease 2019: Do’s & Don’ts

The Coronavirus pandemic has insidiously infiltrated across the world, and has become a major healthcare crisis. While we continuously monitor the latest update regarding COVID-19 and its impact on our community, the situation seems more distressing. The pandemic has caused panic among individuals, and visiting a dentist during this time may not be possible or very challenging. So, it is essential to maintain a proper teeth cleaning routine for children to avoid a visit to the dentist.

Why is it necessary to maintain children’s teeth cleaning routine?
Proper teeth cleaning routine is an integral part of a child’s overall health and development.

There is no evidence to suggest that Coronavirus disease can be avoided by engaging in proper oral hygiene. However, good oral hygiene ensures to have a positive impact on your overall health. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts during the pandemic to help you better navigate your child’s oral health.

Things you should do to ensure proper oral hygiene for children:

1. Clean or brush your child’s teeth twice (morning and night) daily. While you choose a toothpaste for your child, make sure that it contains fluoride.
2. Supervise your child while they brush. Also, take special care to use a soft toothbrush for your child. After using the toothbrush, clean it thoroughly.
3. Take special care to replace your child’s toothbrush once every three months. Also, replace toothbrushes while they recover from an infectious disease, like flu or Coronavirus disease.
4. Besides, brushing teeth, floss your child’s teeth every day to remove food trapped in between the teeth. Flossing prevents the formation of plaque.
5. Add healthy food like whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your diet. Also, drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.
6. Use a zinc-rich oral hygiene product. These products help to control plaque, reduce unpleasant odour and prevents the formation of calculus and caries.
7. Besides, brushing and flossing teeth, you must scrape or brush your child’s tongue for complete all-round oral hygiene.
8. Never let your child use someone else’s toothbrush. Likewise, never share your child’s toothbrush with anyone. Avoid sharing a toothbrush.
9. Usually, it is advisable not to keep your toothbrush near the toilet. If you keep your child’s or your toothbrush near the toilet, please close the cover of the toilet before flushing.
10. According to various studies, it is found that a virus can transmit through faecal matter. With the Coronavirus pandemic doing rounds it is advisable to close the lid of the toilet before flushing.

Finally, manage non-emergency dental ailments of children at home. You can ask your dentist to assist you over the phone.

Things you should avoid to ensure proper oral hygiene for children:

1. Do not brush your child’s teeth soon after meals. Brushing soon after having food may sometimes cause damage to the enamel of your little one.
2. Do not let your little one hog on sugary foods and soft drinks. We know kids love to have aerated drinks and sugar-laden food, but mostly these foods are acidic; thus, they tend to destroy the enamel. Additionally, sugary foods cause the growth of plaque, which can later cause a cavity.
3. Children, at times, can be agile and swallow the toothpaste. Swallowing excessive amounts of fluoride in the toothpaste may damage the enamel. You must take necessary care that your child does not eat the toothpaste.
4. While getting a toothbrush for your child, please select one which has a soft bristle. Toothbrushes with hard bristles can damage the enamel.
5. While administering toothpaste to your little one, take special care to administer the requisite amount of toothpaste. For children, it is advisable to apply a pea-size amount of toothpaste. Do not administer an excessive amount of toothpaste.
6. Do not eat sticky food as they may stick to the teeth and cause a cavity.
7. After brushing teeth at night do not let your children eat anything as crumbs of food tend to stick on the teeth, which may cause a cavity.
8. Do not feed your child with too much acidic food as acidic food causes sensitivity of teeth.
9. Avoid visiting a dentist until it is an emergency during the Coronavirus disease pandemic.
10. Please do not visit us if you have symptoms of coronavirus disease like fever, sore throat, cold.

While coronavirus disease has severely affected the United States of America, it is essential to fight the pandemic back together. By maintaining proper hygiene, we can defeat this pandemic. Apart from maintaining good oral health, it is vital to maintain overall cleanliness. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water at least for 20 seconds. Wear a mask while going out. Maintain social-distancing. Together we can fight and defeat the pandemic. And for all your dental complaints do visit us at https://www.rockdaledental.com/ alternately you can book an online appointment with us by calling 512.593.6298

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.