If you’re looking to help your child develop healthy dental habits, you likely can use all the help you can get from a pediatric dentist. Education is always the first step to inspiring action, so teach your child the importance of keeping their teeth healthy.

At Pediatric Dentistry Kahala, children’s dentist Allen K. Hirai, DDS, who provides some of the most comprehensive kids’ dentistry services in the Honolulu, HI, area, offers three tips for cavity prevention that you can share with your child:

• Regular Brushing: Emphasize the benefits of regular brushing and flossing to your child. They are simple, yet effective ways to keep plaque off your child’s teeth, remove stains, and fight bacteria. Teach your child the proper brushing and flossing techniques, and encourage them to brush and floss after every meal. Get your pediatric dentist to suggest some ways to make brushing and flossing fun; this could include allowing your child to choose their own toothbrush or brushing with your child so that it feels more like a fun activity rather than a chore.
• Eating Right: Healthy eating is an important part of a child’s physical and mental development, but it can go a long way towards preventing cavities and maintaining dental health, too. Include plenty of apples or carrot sticks as part of meals and snacks—the crunch factor stimulates the flow of saliva, which can clean teeth and remove plaque. Incorporate dairy products like milk and cheese, which can also keep teeth strong against decay. Children’s dentists also highly advise keeping sugary beverages and sticky candies to a minimum, as these can get wedged in between teeth and cause bacteria to grow.  
• Regular Checkups: Any cavity prevention plan includes regular visits to the dentist. Take your child for a checkup every six months so the pediatric dentist can examine their teeth for any signs of decay. Frequent dentist appointments allow cavities to be spotted and treated earlier.

Making your kids aware of cavity prevention tips as early as possible sets the stage for good oral health as they get older. For more tips on cavity prevention or to schedule an appointment with a reliable kids’ dentistry clinic, contact Allen K. Hirai, DDS at Pediatric Dentistry Kahala at (808) 737-0076 or visit their website.