The best way to prevent cavities in your child is to teach good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist. It’s important to closely monitor your child as they brush and floss their teeth.

Make sure they know the proper technique, and that they brush for the recommended amount of time. They should brush their teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day and also make sure you schedule dental appointments every 6 months.

If your child has a sweet tooth, offer healthier alternatives to satisfy their cravings and maintain good dental health. Snacks such as yogurt, cheese sticks, unsweetened apple sauce, carrots and dip and low glycemic fruits (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries) are a great alternative to sugar dense candy and sweets.

Between less sugar and good dental hygiene, you can protect your child’s teeth, thus preventing the likelihood of future cavities.

At what age should a child start dental check ups in St. Johns?

Pediatric oral care should start even as a young infant because even though your baby may not have teeth yet, their mouth can still collect cavity causing bacteria.

Make sure to wipe infants gums with a soft cloth after each feeding, and gently brush their teeth twice a day with a pea-size amount of kid-friendly toothpaste.

St. Johns dental check ups are also recommended to ensure healthy oral health care.

LOL Dental offers dental hygiene check ups and dental cleanings at all our locations:

Dental check up St. Johns 
Dental check up Labrador City
Dental check up Goose Bay

Flossing is essential to maintaining a clean and healthy set of teeth. You should floss for approximately one minute before brushing. Then brush thoroughly for approximately two minutes.

Why use dental floss?

Dental floss helps dislodge bacteria from areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. This bacteria is easy to spot. It produces plaque, a sticky substance that accumulates around the teeth near the gum line.

If plaque isn’t removed, it will harden and turn into tartar, which can cause a number of diseases including gingivitis.

How to floss?

1. Cut a length of floss equal to the distance between your hand and shoulder.
2. Wind one end of the dental floss around your right middle finger and the other around your left middle finger, leaving about 2 inches of space between your hands.
3. Glide the dental floss into the space between your teeth, all the way to the gum. Clean by sliding the floss up and down two or three times on each side. Repeat for each tooth, and don’t forget the molars at the back of your mouth.
4. Unwind a clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

It’s normal for the gums to be sensitive or even bleed a little the first few times you floss. Don’t give up. These minor discomforts will rapidly disappear.

We recommend flossing in the evening, before you go to bed. To help you establish a flossing routine, try flossing while you’re doing something else, like watching TV or listening to music.

We offer dental cleanings by a dental hygienist at the following locations:

• Dental Hygienist St. John's
• Dental Hygienist Labrador City
• Dental Hygienist Goose Bay