What Happens If Kids Don’t Brush Their Teeth?

We recommend that you start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as their first tooth comes in! Begin flossing when they have at least two teeth touching. Continue helping or supervising your child during their oral hygiene routine until you are confident they can do it independently with good results.

In this blog post, we discuss what can happen if children don’t brush their teeth.

Decay & Cavities

Daily brushing and flossing remove food particles and plaque. Plaque is bacteria that produces harmful acids as they feed upon the sugars in the mouth. These acidic byproducts erode and damage the surface of the teeth. This will cause tooth decay, which are weakened areas of a tooth. Unless the area is fortified through remineralization, it will deteriorate into permanent damage in the form of holes called cavities.

Discoloration of Teeth & Gums

Without proper oral hygiene, your child’s teeth will become discolored. For example, they can develop a yellow tint, white splotches, or brown stains. Their gums can also appear abnormally dark or red because of inflammation or infection. These visible changes in your child’s smile can negatively affect their self-esteem or make them self-conscious about smiling.

Bad Breath & Bullying

Poor brushing habits allow food particles and bacteria to build up within the mouth, which can contribute to bad breath. Others may even avoid your child or make fun of them because of the smell. This can cause your child to feel embarrassed or ostracized at school.

More Dental Expenses

Healthier teeth require less treatment time at the dentist, which means less dental expenses for parents and caregivers. Although we offer fillings and other restorative procedures, we emphasize patient education and preventive care (like daily brushing!) so your child can avoid extra treatment whenever possible.

Gentle Dentist for Kids in Columbus, OH

In conjunction with daily brushing and flossing, we recommend your child visits Clover Kids Dental every six months. These visits will reduce your child’s risk of dental disease and allow us to identify problems early.

We offer comprehensive pediatric dentistry in Columbus, OH. Contact us today to schedule your child’s next appointment!

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Categorised in: Preventive Dental Care