10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Child’s Overall Health

A healthy body is strongly linked to a healthy mouth. Cavities and poor oral health can lead to more serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just about brushing frequency but the effectiveness of your tools and techniques.

Here are ten health tips to guide your child's oral care:

1. Maintain a Clean Mouth with the Right Approach
   Brushing is essential, but it's not just about frequency. Using effective tools like the TePe compact Tuft brush can make a difference. Avoid brushing for 30 minutes after eating to prevent acids from being brushed into the teeth, and consider staining the bacteria with a disclosing solution to monitor your effectiveness. Kid-friendly toothpaste with xylitol helps maintain a healthy microbiome.

2. Clean Between the Teeth Effectively
   Flossing and cleaning between the teeth are essential, but the effectiveness of your tools and techniques matters more. Small TePe brushes with tapered ends and the EasyPick, used throughout the day, can make the job easier and yield better results.

3. Pay Attention to Signs of Drooling
   If your child drools a lot, it could be a sign of a tongue tie, low tongue posture, or weak facial muscles. These problems can mess with their breathing, talking, and eating, and may even cause crooked teeth, and crowded jaws or lead to needing teeth removed before getting braces. This is about more than just making teeth look nice. If not treated early, these issues can cause problems that last a lifetime. Make sure you pick doctors who care about growing healthy jaws and airways, not just straightening teeth.

4. Manage Mouth Breathing and Tongue Posture
   Open mouth breathing can create an acidic environment in the mouth, leading to potential issues. As a parent, you have the power to model healthy habits for your child. Encourage them to breathe through their nose and practice proper tongue posture by keeping their lips sealed shut, just like 'best friends forever.' Remember, more is caught than taught, so regularly check in with yourself to see if your lips are parted or sealed together yet resting. Think of your lips as attached at the hip, always working in unison, and you'll be setting a positive example for your child's oral health.

5. Use pH Control Products
   pH control, including biofilm management, helps prevent cavities. Our pH Control Products Guide offers toothpaste, gels, and candies with pH-neutralizing ingredients like xylitol and arginine.

6. Use Mineralizing Products
   Toothpaste with xylitol, such as Squiggle, can neutralize pH levels and re-mineralize enamel, effectively managing biofilm.

7. Disinfect Toothbrushes
   Disinfection is vital to prevent the reintroduction of bacteria. Perform this nightly to protect your child's oral and overall health. Remember to get those bristles dried before using them again.

8. Get Enough Vitamin D and Arginine
   Vitamin D, found in fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and sunlight, strengthens bones and teeth. Encourage outdoor activities for natural exposure. Vitamin D helps put calcium into the bones and teeth, mineralizing and strengthening them. Arginine, an essential amino acid, also plays a role in oral health and can be found in various foods. Some great sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, and egg yolks, while arginine-rich foods encompass legumes like soybeans and lentils, whole grains, seeds like pumpkin and sunflower, seaweed, leafy greens, red meat, poultry, and dairy products. Natural sunlight is also a good source of vitamin D, and it's always beneficial for kids to be active outside. Including both vitamin D and arginine in your child's diet can support their overall well-being, including oral health.

9. Manage Acid Reflux
   Watch for symptoms like teeth grinding, disrupted sleep, or cavities in the back teeth, or upper front 4 teeth. Consult a pediatrician if you suspect acid reflux.

10. Seek Guidance
    Many parents feel overwhelmed when it comes to their child’s oral health. There are many recommendations and varying opinions, so it can be difficult to know which ones to follow. With 30 years of experience as a dental professional and an extensive background in healing mouths, Carrie Ibbetson's unique insights help her see things that can make healing not only make sense but also doable. Her membership and coaching course give parents access to a Facebook support group, live Q&As, and a wealth of helpful resources and guides, all designed to help you take action and navigate your child's oral health with confidence.

Join the Oral Health Coaching Membership

Our goal is to empower parents and the whole family in oral care. From understanding when not to brush to using proper tools like the TePe compact Tuft brush, these insights make a significant difference. Join our membership or course and start improving your at-home care today!