Kids Oral Health: What We Use and Why It Matters
Why kids' oral health is about more than teeth
Oral health shapes more than cavities, and I treat it as part of the whole child. I have a doctorate in pediatric neuropsychology, so I look at how everything connects, from sleep to focus to behavior.
How kids breathe and sleep at night can show up in their focus, mood and behavior, and the mouth is part of that picture. Research has also linked poor oral health to a higher risk of stroke later in life. Habits built in childhood tend to stick, which is why we start early and keep the routine simple.
I am not a dentist, so please talk to your child's dentist about anything specific, especially mouth breathing, snoring or teeth grinding.
What my kids use
Here is our daily routine for my older kids.
Toothpaste: Fygg / Emily uses Risewell (both hydroxyapatite toothpastes, so the amount guidance below applies to either one) - use code DRORGANICMOMMY for both
Flosser: Slate
Water flosser: Quip
Tongue scraper: every morning
I keep the routine short so it actually happens. A few minutes a day, done every day, beats a long routine that gets skipped.
How much toothpaste to use
Most parents use far more toothpaste than their child needs. For Fygg and RiseWell hydroxyapatite toothpaste, the amount is a rice sized smear at every age.
Age
Amount
Under 3
A rice sized smear
3 to 5
A rice sized smear
6 and up
A rice sized smear
A full line of paste across the brush is too much. Always follow your product's directions and supervise brushing.
Why we floss, and why water flossing works for older kids
Brushing cannot reach between the teeth or along the gumline, which is where food and plaque hide. My older two kids use a Quip water flosser, and I like it for kids and teens because it is easier to stick with than string floss. Research has found water flossers can reduce plaque and gum inflammation, and they can be especially useful with braces and retainers.
A water flosser does not replace brushing. We use it before brushing so the mouth is already clear when the toothbrush goes in. Ask your child's dentist when your child is ready to start.
Tongue scraping and retainer cleaning
My kids scrape their tongues first thing in the morning, before anything else, so the overnight buildup comes off instead of getting pushed around. It takes a few seconds and kids pick it up quickly.
For retainers, we use the Zima Dental Pod. We only fill the pod with water and skip the cleaning solution that comes with it.
My own routine, in order
The order matters, because each step sets up the next one. I tongue scrape first, oil pull and scrape again, use my water flosser, floss with a little Fygg toothpaste on the floss, and brush last. You can read my full adult routine, with everything I use, in my oral health post.
Toothpaste amounts come from the Fygg and RiseWell manufacturer FAQs. This post is not medical or dental advice, so check with your child's dentist about your child's needs.