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Make sure they
brush their teeth
Plaque begins forming on the teeth very
quickly. What is plaque? It’s this, film
that grabs onto teeth. It squirts harmful
acids onto teeth. This acid causes your
children’s teeth to decay.
It forms all the time, 24 hours a day.
Imagine all that nasty bacteria trying to
cling to your child’s teeth paving the way
for cavities, bad breath, irritation,
bleeding gums and worse.
This is why it is so important to make sure
children brush their teeth at least twice a
day and floss at least once a day. If they
take the time to brush and floss, it
interrupts the plaque from forming and
harming their teeth and gums.
Make sure they brush their teeth at least
twice a day….just after breakfast and before
they go to bed are the best times. Teach
them to brush all their teeth in the front
and back. The brush should be placed against
the teeth at an angle. A careful brushing
should take about 3 minutes.
Watch what they
drink
Staying properly hydrated is very important
to overall health. As an active youngster,
they lose two or more quarts of water daily,
so their body needs to be continuously
replenished.
Today, many kids and adults sip bottled soda
pop or sports drinks while on the go. But
most soft drinks contain sugar and caffeine
which may actually SPEED UP dehydration?
Also, drinking acidic, sugary beverages all
day can lead to tooth decay. Heavy soda
consumption has also been linked to
diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.
So, next time your child is thirsty, reach
for a bottle of fluoridated water. The water
is refreshing and the fluoride protects
against tooth decay, rebuilds tooth enamel
and strengthens bones. If they do drink soft
drinks, make sure they: |
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Soda pop and sports drinks are okay as an
occasional treat, but water is the best way
to refresh your child during and after
physical activity. They’ll feel more
hydrated and energized. And since water has
no sugar, no acid and no calories, their
body and teeth will thank you! |