Getting your kids to take good care of their teeth is an ordeal.

They don’t want to brush their teeth before bed…in fact, they don’t want to go to bed at all if they can help it! They don’t want to floss after dinner, they want to run off and play. Let’s not even get started on all the sugary food they eat. When you’re worried about your children getting cavities or developing good habits, kids dentists can give you some much-needed relief. Not only will they offer quality check-ups to nip any problems in the bud, they’ll help encourage your children to work on their oral health through fun and innovative activities.

Here’s what you should know about general dentistry for kids, from preventing cavities to encouraging good habits.

Cavities Can Pop Up Out Of Nowhere

Cavities are annoying. They’re painful, sensitive to cold and, worst of all, able to pop entirely out of nowhere. Studies have shown over 40% of children have dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten, with an estimated 20% of children from the ages of five to 19 living with untreated cavities as we speak. These are caused when bacteria gets between the cracks and causes a tooth to start decaying. Left unchecked it can turn into a very painful problem…

Tooth Decay Is On The Rise

The only thing worse than a cavity? Tooth decay. Not only is this a painful condition that can cause someone to need a brand new tooth, it can even lead to jaw pain if you’re not careful. Today tooth decay is 20 times more common than diabetes and even five times more common than childhood asthma. Children with poor oral health are even three times more likely to miss school as a result of dental pain. Knowing this…what should your kids start doing instead?

Flossing Should Be Done Twice Per Day

While flossing is easily the most time-consuming of a good oral health regimen, it’s also one of the most essential. Where brushing breaks up plaque and rinsing fills in the cracks (literally), flossing eliminates the majority of food build-up and bacteria between the teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice per day and flossing twice per day. Kids dentists are aware children are ever eager to get back to their play time, so they can offer colorful floss to add some extra fun to the mundane.

Toothbrushes Should Be Replaced Often

Your child should brush and floss twice per day…but is there anything else you’re missing on the way to imbuing their lives with smart health habits? Try replacing your toothbrush more often. The bristles are supposed to be firm and coarse, able to break up plaque easily, and old toothbrushes have a tough time doing their job. Swapping toothbrushes every two to three months is a good rule-of-thumb (unless you have a particularly good model). While kids dentists are always hard at work providing families with quality dental care and consultation, most of the work should still be done at home.

Visit Your Family Dentists Every Year

The best oral health regimen should still be supplemented with yearly visits to your dentist of choice. There are some things you’re just not able to spot on your own, that of which can be identified easily by a professional and reversed before it gets any worse. This includes periodontal disease (on the rise!), tooth decay, cavities, emerging wisdom teeth, plaque build-up and any other nasty issues you can think of. Dentistry is among the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States today.

Give your kids something extra to smile about by applying for another visit to the dentist.