Encouraging kids to brush and floss several times a day is the best way to prevent enamel-damaging tooth decay. Unfortunately, kids do not have perfect oral care techniques or routines, which leave their teeth susceptible to decay. Furthermore, kids often carry bad habits, like frequent snacking and a love for sweets, that increase the risk of cavity formation. Luckily, you can provide a stick of sugar free gum to kids age four and over to assist in the prevention of cavities.
Reduces Frequent Snacks
The snacks kids munch on have a dramatic effect on the health of the bacteria in their mouth. Unfortunately, those bacteria are the main cause of tooth decay that leads to cavities on the tooth surface and beyond. The sugars your child consumes directly feed the bacteria, which then produce acidic waste that eats through the enamel coating on the teeth.
Plain sugar, as is found in soda and candy, are the worst offenders, but both complex and simple carbohydrates also effectively break down into sugar molecules by your child's body. Therefore, even bread, chips, crackers and fruit feed bacteria in the mouth.
You can help limit unnecessary snacks, and effectively decrease tooth decay, by providing your child sugar free gum to chew instead. If your child simply asked for the snack from boredom or to fulfill the need to chew, the gum will feel incredibly satisfying. Don't feel bad about providing healthy snacks when your child is actually hungry, however.
Replaces Sugary Substances
Although you can strive to limit sweet foods and drinks, your children may still struggle with cravings from time to time. Since sugar is the biggest offender in promoting tooth decay, it is wise to find a suitable replacement for times when your children's cravings get out of hand.
Sugar free gum flavored like delicious desserts eliminates those cravings without bathing your child's teeth in bacteria's favorite food group, sugar. Common gum flavors include grape, strawberry shortcake, raspberry sorbet, apple pie, tropical sundae, orange cream popsicle and root beer float, which all act as a flavor replacement for those missed treats. Since the starved bacteria cannot feed on the sugar alcohols in chewing gum, especially xylitol, many of them will start to die off in droves.
Pulls Debris Out Of Teeth Crevices
Although dentists regularly apply sealants to the molar surfaces until your child reaches adulthood, it's important to pull remaining debris off the tooth surface after every meal. Unfortunately, brushing immediately after eating or drink is generally not advised, as mechanical removal of debris abrades the temporarily softened enamel. Instead, you can hand your children a piece of sugar free gum to pull the debris off the teeth without damaging the enamel. The sugar free gum will render the molar surfaces squeaky clean within a short amount of time.
Increase Production Of Saliva
Saliva also continually cleans off the tooth surfaces throughout the day. Saliva production can suffer as children run and play without consuming enough water. Medical conditions, such as salivary gland disorders, can also dramatically slow saliva production.
Although both of those problems can be mitigated by reminding your child to drink enough water, that is not always a viable choice. When you cannot fit more water into the schedule, or the increased intake is not helping quite enough, pass a stick of chewing gum to your child to naturally increase saliva output. Chewing gum naturally brings saliva into the mouth and actively swishes it around the teeth for a cleaning boost.
In Summary
Children should see their dentist every six months to receive a cleaning and have each tooth inspected for developing issues, such as cavities or abnormal growth. Regular tooth cleaning sessions at the dentist's office helps remove plaque accumulation and resulting decay.
Dentists use professional equipment to scrape and scrub your child's teeth clean to reveal the healthy enamel surface. Any developing cavities or growth issues trigger the start of a suitable treatment process.
Beyond providing free access to chewing gum, you can help your child achieve good oral health by instating a regular brushing and flossing routine. Dentists recommend having your child brush for two minutes, twice a day to maintain a healthy smile. Check out sites like http://www.nwidentist.com/ for more information on dentists.
