Healthy Kids    

Oral care experts share tips to keep kid’s smiles healthy



Red Seal tells you how

tips to keep kid’s smiles healthy


Cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Over half of children between age 6 and age 8 have had a cavity in one of their baby teeth, and 57% of teenagers between ages 12 and 19 have had a cavity in their permanent teeth. Besides regular brushing and flossing, there is more that parents and kids can be doing to help improve oral health and avoid problems like cavities.

Cavities can be caused by bacteria, foods, acids, and saliva. Foods with sugars and starches in them, like candy, soda, cake, juices, milk, and cereals, become acidic from the bacteria in kid's mouths. Acids can sit around kid’s teeth and break down the protective enamel coating which can lead to cavity formation.

READ MORE: 5 fun ways to get your kids to brush their teeth

In addition to regular brushing and flossing at least twice a day, parents can help their kids protect the health of their mouths and teeth by:

Drinking more water – drinking water can help wash stuck foods, especially sugar and starches, off the teeth helping to keep acid from forming.

Don’t always drink filtered water – most city water systems contain fluoride which can help strengthen tooth enamel. If your water doesn’t contain fluoride, consider having regular fluoride treatments at the dentist.

Avoid sticky snacks between meals – it’s not just sugar that is the cavity culprit. Snacks like crackers, pretzels, and other starchy foods can get stuck on teeth for hours. If kids have a sticky snack, have them swish water around their mouth after eating to help remove stuck on bits.

Try not to share eating utensils between family members – taking a bite of food off mom or dad’s fork or spoon, or mom or dad having a lick of a child’s ice cream might seem harmless, but everyone’s mouth has different bacteria and cavity bacteria from one mouth could transfer to another.

For kids with deep grooves in their back teeth, ask dentists about sealants which can add another protective layer and help make those hard-to-reach areas easier to clean.

Chew gum between meals and after snacks – according to the American Dental Association, chewing gum can increase saliva in the mouth which can help reduce plaque acid and help prevent cavities from forming.

For more helpful oral health tips and to discover more about the Red Seal toothpaste and other oral care products, visit: www.redseal.global or shop Red Seal products on Amazon.



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Resume tips for job seekers with disabilities

    Some of the most important things to keep in mind

    For the most part, writing a resume as a disabled worker involves the same best practices as writing any type of resume. Some of the most important things to keep in mind include: read more »
  • Five key tips to follow when turning the car keys over to your teen

    The clearer parents are in establishing driving rule, the safer teen drivers will be

    The key to letting teenagers drive solo is ensuring they know all that they’re getting into… as well as your fears. Boys Town of Nebraska lists 5 key tips to keep in mind when turning over the keys to your teen. read more »
  • Teaching your kids life skills

    Five suggestions for parents to try

    A balanced life requires practical skills, not just the academic learning kids get in school. Mothering.com suggests teaching children these five important life skills. They can be introduced slowly and adapted to any age level. read more »
  • Essential life skills every eight-year-old should have

    It's not to late to teach these, if you haven’t yet

    While it is amazing what kids can do on social media and with complex video games, it’s also sadly amazing what they often cannot do. Now’s the perfect time to remedy that. read more »
  • Get your kids interested in birding

    Great spots you can watch birds in the Hudson Valley

    NYS has hundreds of species of birds. The Hudson Valley has lots of places where you and your family can observe them. See this list of places to go and what you may see. read more »
  • Calling all birdwatchers

    Check out Birdability which promotes birding for everyone

    Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. We focus on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, we strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding. read more »
  • Lucky mint brownie perfection

    A twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate

    How lucky you must be to come across this recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This one is a twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate that’s sure to have almost anyone’s taste buds screaming “yum.” This dessert might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. read more »
  • The connection between your heart and kidneys

    There are many links between these two organs

    While people may think about heart disease and kidney disease as two different health problems, there are many links between them. read more »
  • New developmental milestones for children ages birth to 5 from ASHA

    Checklists will help parents track their child's development

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) announces today the free, online availability of new checklists that detail communication (speech, language, and hearing) milestones for children ages birth to 5 years as well as feeding and swallowing milestones for children ages birth to 3 years. These milestones provide parents and caregivers with a roadmap of what to expect during their child's early years of life—and can alert them to the early signs of a potential developmental delay or disorder. read more »
  • A better-for-you way to begin the day

    Consider this sweetpotato breakfast bake

    Starting a journey toward better health and wellness can begin the same way you can (and should) start each day: with a nutritious breakfast. A morning meal loaded with nutrient-boosting flavor provides the foundation you need not only for the day at hand, but for a sustainable long-term eating plan, as well. read more »