You may not have been lucky enough to avoid cavities as a child but you want to make sure that your own children do not develop them – are there any particular things you should be doing? As a matter of fact there are. Good dental hygiene is not hard to practice, and if you teach your children how to do it they will go the rest of their lives with strong, healthy teeth. Here is what you should be doing:

• Remind your children to brush their teeth after every meal, and make sure that they do with fluoride toothpaste. You can ask your dentist to recommend a brand – there are some that contain just enough fluoride for children. If they are not able to brush they should rinse their mouths out with water after they eat. There are also mouthwashes that are designed for children.

• Dental sealants for children have been around for a long time so you should talk to your dentist about them. They are not painful or difficult to apply and it takes only a short time. They usually need to be replaced after about 10 years.

• Although fluoride in water often gets a bad rap it is actually good for your teeth, so encourage your children to drink tap water.

• In many cases cavities in children are caused by sugary foods and drinks. While it may be impossible to cut them out completely, you should limit how much of these your children consume. Encourage them to brush their teeth after they do.

• There are some foods that have been known to discourage the development of cavities. Cheeses, for example, contain an ingredient called casein which helps to prevent tooth decay. Raisins also help, and adults who drink wine often tend to have fewer tooth cavities.

• Encourage your children to drink water through a straw without it making contact with their teeth.

• Avoid processed foods – they contain way more sugar than is good for your teeth. Instead of snacking on protein bars for example, provide healthy sugar free snacks such as nuts and fruit. Instead, feed your family a healthy diet of fresh foods prepared at home – not only will their teeth benefit, they will also enjoy better overall health.

• If your child has to take antibiotics and they are making their teeth vulnerable to cavities talk to your dentist about antibacterial treatments. There are rinses designed to fight the effects of antibiotics on teeth. Learn about dentistry in Nampa.

• Do not skip dental visits. Make sure you take your child to see a dentist two or three times a year so that if they are developing cavities the dentist can treat them early. Take whatever recommendations your dentist takes seriously. If you don’t have an appointment but you think that your child may be developing cavities or any other dental treatment you should not wait until your next appointment – take them anyway.

These tips are not just good for helping your children avoid cavities; they are also good for you.