Why should you brush your child’s teeth twice a day?

Why should you brush your child's teeth twice a day? | Kids Toothbrush Club

We were always told growing up “Brush your teeth after every meal.” Somewhere lost in our busy lifestyle, we missed the memo that it wasn’t necessary to brush after every meal, but that it was still important to brush 2-3 times a day. But the problem started when some parents’ frenetic lifestyle caused them to remove tooth brushing from their child’s schedule and cut it down to once a day. 
A recent study shows that less than half of parents brushed their child’s teeth twice daily.  Over 70% of mothers knew they should brush daily but only half of them knew they should use a small amount of toothpaste. Why are they eliminating this imperative step in their child’s daily routine? Most parents, almost 90%, state lack of time and/or an uncooperative child as their reason for skipping daily tooth brushing.
Parents that are always on the go may be rushing out the door in the morning. At best, they may brush their child’s teeth for 30 seconds. At the end of the day, 60% of them are not brushing their child’s teeth at all. The guidelines are to spend 2 minutes, 2 times a day brushing your child’s teeth. There are 1,440 minutes in a day. These parents need to find 4 minutes that make a difference in their child’s oral and physical health.
Have an uncooperative child? At Kids Toothbrush Club, we help parents and children make brushing fun through motivational tools that include calendars, stickers and activity books. Children are encouraged to brush up to three times daily and when they do, they get to put star stickers on their calendar. This fun activity that kids love creates a habit and kids no longer argue with mom and dad about brushing. Soon, lifelong routine of good oral health has begun.
So why brush two times a day?  
1)      Bacteria – Removing food and harmful bacteria from the tooth surface that produces cavities can be achieved by brushing the teeth. If you are only brushing your child’s teeth once a day, bacteria are sitting on their teeth for up to 24 hours. Brushing at night before bed time ensures that bacteria aren’t sitting on their teeth overnight. Saliva protects against bacteria and plaque buildup, but at night, the mouth produces less saliva. Removing excess bacteria and food that the saliva wouldn’t otherwise is essential.
2)      Fluoride protects teeth throughout the day and while sleeping. This barrier helps to prevent the formation of cavities and the accumulation of tarter. Using toothpaste with fluoride twice daily gives your child this protection that is needed to prevent cavities and gum disease. However, fluoride toothpaste should not be used on children under the age of 2.
3)      ­Health benefits –A Report of the Surgeon General states that children with poor oral health are 3 times more likely to miss school and 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental related illnesses. In addition to oral health benefit, there are additional health advantages. Poor dental hygiene can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For parents who think that brushing their child’s teeth is just a way to prevent cavities or a way to avoid their child getting a filling, I hope they realize that it is so much more. More than just protecting their “pearly whites”, they are protecting their child’s oral health for a lifetime. They are protecting their overall health for a lifetime by helping to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And they are giving them a better start in school by preventing unnecessarily missed school days. 
With a monthly kit from Kids Toothbrush Club, kids and parents learn to enjoy brushing their teeth. Parents please take 4 out of 1,440 minutes in your day to protect your child. Have fun brushing your teeth with them and set a good example.  “Because everyone deserves a healthy smile.”

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