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6 Tips to Help Kids Keep Healthy Teeth

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Waterpik. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today is the last day of National Children’s Dental Health Month. I actually was at the dentist twice this month with the girls, so I’m feeling pretty good about my children’s dental health at this moment. I remember growing up that people remarked that I had a nice smile, so taking care of my teeth became important to me. I want to be sure to pass on that same knowledge of dental health to my kids, and so I’ve put together 6 tips that I use to help my kids keep healthy teeth. Let me note that I am not a dentist or oral health professional, these are just my observations as a mom.

6 Tips to Help Kids Keep Healthy Teeth and Practice Good Dental Health StuffedSuitcase.com

Brushing is probably the most basic tip, we’re even told to start brushing our kids’ gums when they’re babies. Now that the girls are older, they are regularly brushing twice a day. The biggest tip here that I practice, is to buy fun toothbrushes and replace them often (every 3 months). We actually have the sonicare kids toothbrush, which the girls love, but I also buy fun themed toothbrushes so they have a choice and some variation.

Waterpik Aquarius Professional Water Flosser #NewAgeInWaterFlossing #adFlossing is the biggest struggle for me as an adult, and for my kids. I really don’t enjoy the feeling of flossing, in my mouth or the string around my fingers! I was so excited to work with Waterpik so I could finally find an answer to flossing that didn’t involve string floss. I’ve also been searching for a fun way to get my kids excited and interested in flossing their teeth. Flossing is a very important aspect of dental health. We had a lot of fun with the Waterpik Aquarius Professional Water Flosser, and the girls even wanted to stay up late to use it again, and again, and again! Thankfully I convinced them they could use it in the morning.

After the kids went to bed, I had the chance to test the water flosser out, and it is so much better than string floss. It’s almost hard to believe that I won’t have to go through that discomfort ever again! One feature that I really love on the Aquarius is the on/off switch on the wand handle. I have a feeling the girls (or me) would soak the bathroom when reaching for the power button on the machine. The on/off wand switch made it quick and easy to shut off. Here’s a fun little video of the girls’ first time using the Waterpik Aquarius and also what they thought about the experience.

Waterpik is offering my readers free shipping on any Waterpik product through March 31st with the code FREESHIPWP660. If you’re like me and hate flossing, or want to help your kids keep healthy teeth, check out the Waterpik website and take advantage of this free shipping discount code offer!


Timers are my next tip. My girls love having a way to keep track of the two minute time interval they’re supposed to brush for. Our sonicare kids toothbrush actually has chiming timers that help tell them how long to brush. But, you can also just buy a simple timer or use a kitchen timer that they can set to track the two minute interval.


Mouthwash is yet another way you can help your kids keep healthy teeth. Of course, you should always make sure your dentist approves, but ours encourages our girls to rinse with a fluoride mouthwash once a day. There are a lot of fun flavors that most kids will love.


Sugarfree Chewing Gum (ADA approved) can help kids create more saliva which helps neutralize and wash away the acids that are made after eating. Those acids can be bad for teeth, so by chewing gum (sugarfree) you can help keep healthy teeth.

Teeth Care Charts via How Does She?Reward Charts are my final tip for helping kids keep healthy teeth. These teeth care charts are available at How Does She. If your kid is reward motivated, this is a great way to encourage them to brush & floss.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Waterpik. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Teresa

Thursday 26th of February 2015

Hi Kimberly! I came across this post from pinterest, and as a dental hygienist, I just wanted to say that I am very glad that you take initiative in your children's oral health routines. I'm glad to hear that your children are brushing twice a day regularly, using mouth wash, and timing themselves. Having reward charts is also a fun and motivating idea.

Given that I am not a dentist, or more specifically your children's dentist, I do still have a few more tips that could help you out with keeping your kid's mouths healthy.

The fact that you're replacing their tooth brushes every 3 or so months is great. However, please be careful with the "fun" toothbrushes. If they do not come from name brands, the bristles are likely to be a lower quality and can be less efficient at removing plaque (which can lead to decay). Also, always be sure to buy soft bristle toothbrushes. If they are medium or hard bristles, they can actually wear enamel away.

As far as the waterpik goes, that is an aqua irrigator that is mostly used to remove food debris. Floss, however, is meant to go beneath the gum line to remove plaque. The plaque can not be removed with water alone. If you don't like using traditional floss, I recommend trying floss picks such as these: DenTek-Comfort-Clean-Floss-Picks-150ct

Thank you! I hope this helps.

Kimberly

Sunday 1st of March 2015

Thanks for the tips Teresa! That's a great tip about being aware of bristle quality, that's not something I've thought about before!

Rabia @TheLiebers

Saturday 1st of March 2014

I know this makes me weird, but I actually really like flossing! I buy flossers so that we don't have to wind floss around our fingers, because I don't like that part. My kids like using their flossers too. The water pik looks fun, though! I'm sure my kids would love that too!

Kimberly

Saturday 1st of March 2014

I think there are a few unique individuals like yourself in the world, Rabia. :) It's great that you make flossing a priority and that you're getting your kids to do it. We've tried those pick flossers, but they didn't use them without my reminding them. With the waterpik, they're flossing each night (each morning too!). Thank you for visiting!

Kristin

Saturday 1st of March 2014

That waterpik looks awesome! I had no idea there was such a. Thing! Stopping by from SITS!

Kimberly

Saturday 1st of March 2014

Thanks for stopping by Kristin! The Waterpik is definitely a nice machine! Hope you have a great weekend.

Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean

Saturday 1st of March 2014

visiting from the sharefest! i love that tooth timer. i had a mickey mouse timer growing up and sometimes i feel like i could still use it today!

Kimberly

Saturday 1st of March 2014

I hear you about still needing a timer Lindsay! I have a sonicare and it runs for 2 minutes but it really seems like those 2 minutes are LONG minutes! Hope you have a great weekend.

Yvonne Chase

Saturday 1st of March 2014

I actually don't mind flossing with the floss picks. One end has a brush and the other has a point like a toothpick. String floss is annoying and messy. I hate doing that. Never heard of a Waterpik. Will have to look into getting one of those. P.S. cute girls!

Kimberly

Saturday 1st of March 2014

Hi Yvonne, I always feel like the string on those picks gets weak and frays easily. Guess I'm a picky flosser! :) Thanks for visiting!