Dr. Schneider Shares Kid Friendly Dental Hygiene Products!

STUDIO CITY (KCAL9) — February is Children's Dental Awareness Month!

Dr. Michael Schneider stopped by KCAL9 Wednesday to discuss the importance of dental hygiene at an early age.

He also shared kid friendly products that make brushing your teeth fun!

• It's never too early to begin taking care of a child's teeth.   Early childhood cavities can start to occur as soon as a baby's teeth begin to come in at around 6 months old.   That's when you should start finger brushing your baby's first teeth utilizing a finger tooth and gum cleanser.  Baby Orajel has such an offering.
• And for babies just experience the pain of teething, Teething Rings, like the Bright Starts Starry or Munchkin Teether, are great for soothing young gums
• And from there, you never stop brushing two times a day.   Even when children are old enough to take over the task themselves, they need parental supervision.   Parents need to understand that no matter how busy they are, they need to instill good brushing habits and be role models themselves.
• Fluoride is key to cavity prevention, so make sure you look for a fluoride toothpaste.  One I like is this new FireFly Fluoride Foam Toothpaste.   Kids think it's cool to use because you squirt it right into the mouth instead of onto the brush.   (Bonus – no more toothpaste spills on the sink.)  And it really reaches those hard to brush places that regular toothpastes can get.
• Kids should always brush two minutes – one minute on each row of teeth, upper and lower.   There are plenty of fun toothbrushes on the market that can help.   I like the FireFly Ready Go Brush because it lights up and flashes for the proper amount of time.  It actually flashes first green for go, yellow for halfway there, and red for stop, just like a traffic light!  Its fun to use, so it helps kids establish a good routine.
• FireFly is a really unique brand because it is totally dedicated to making oral care products for kids.   The Ready Go brush and other brushes in the FireFly family are key to better long-term oral hygiene because they are fun, interactive and entertaining.
• Kids should also floss. Floss picks like these from DenTek are easier for little hands to master than traditional floss.
• A mouth rinse with fluoride, like Act Anti-Cavity Kids Alcohol Free Fluoride Rinse (Ocean Berry Flavor), is another way to help prevent cavities because it can get to spots that kids have a hard time reaching.   But it should be used only by kids and always under parental supervision.
• It's great to take care of teeth, but don't forget to take care of your toothbrush too.   For hygiene's sake, never leave a toothbrush lying down on the counter.  One genius solution is this toothbrush with a suction cup base that allows you to store it upright so it doesn't come into contact with bacteria.   Plus, there's less clutter on the sink.
• And don't forget to replace your toothbrushes every three months.   Bristles wear out over time and become less effective.

For more information, visit Dr. Schneider's website.