Teething Tips and Healthy Dental Habits for your Toddler with Orajel

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel Kids.

My three year old is getting his three year old molars. It’s so painful for him and I feel so sorry for him. He is constantly complaining about his mouth hurting and will only eat soft foods. We are working on learning good oral habits with him too. Teaching him how to brush his teeth properly and the kinds of foods he should and should not be eating to keep healthy teeth. I am so grateful for the complete line of Orajel products to help us through this stage of his development.

Here are a few tips I’ve learned for teaching my kids about healthy dental habits:

• Buy a toothbrush that is the right size for their mouth. If the brush is too big, it will hurt when they brush and it won’t be able to reach those hard to get to spots way back on the side molars. Trust me, you don’t want to miss those spots. A very expensive dental bill will be coming your way if you ignore those spots.
• Buy a toothbrush that is soft enough for your child. If you have a toothbrush that is too hard, it will hurt your child’s gums. They will not let you brush up against the gums where all the plaque likes to hide.
• “Brush” your baby’s gums before they have teeth. This will get them used to the routine and it won’t seem so strange to them when you start brushing their new tooth.
• Take your child to the dentist every 6 months once they get their first tooth. Trust me, it’s less expensive to go every 6 months and catch something when it is small then to wait until it’s hurting your child. Not to mention your child will be happier!
• Use the right kind and amount of toothpaste. Usually you should be using about the size of a pea of toothpaste. There are many different kinds of toothpaste out there. Orajel even makes a gum cleanser and soft brush for babies. Then you can move up to “Training Toothpaste” which does not contain fluoride (you don’t want your child swallowing fluoride) when your child get’s teeth. Then on to Anti-Cavity Fluoride toothpaste when they learn to spit.
• Teach your children how to brush properly. Sometimes it’s fun to have the dental hygienist teach them how to brush at their dental exam. This way it’s not coming from mom, so you might even have a better chance of them listening 🙂
• We use a little timer to time how long they should brush for. All the kids get their toothbrushes ready. Then we say, ready, set, GO! And they brush until they hear the beep! Then they spit and rinse.
• Be sure to floss too! Develop a habit early, and they will always do it.
• We also like the colored mouth washes they sell now. They use it before they brush and it turns the plaque blue or pink so they know they got it all when they are done.

If this is your first child, you will soon find out that when they turn about 3 they will be getting their 3 year old molars. This is not a fun experience, but now they are old enough to tell you that their mouth hurts. This is what we are going through right now.

Here are some tips for teething:

• I always have used Orajel teething pain relief on my kids. Other brands just don’t seem to help as much. I LOVE the Baby Orajel Naturals Night Time formula. It really numbs the area and lets my preschooler get back to his happy self. This is a topical way of dealing with the pain.
• I use ibuprofen when it gets really bad. This helps the swelling to go down and makes him more comfortable after about 15 minutes.
•  I love the Baby Orajel Naturals Teething Tablets too! You just give them one and let it dissolve under their tongue, and viola! They feel better! So amazing!
• My sister in law told me about freezing grapes and giving them to the kids when they are older (3 years old and older) and getting their molars. She said they loved chewing on them and the cold made their teeth feel better.
• If you have an awesome Pharmacist, they may have teething suckers. You just let them suck on them for a little bit then put it back in the container to use later. I love these things!
• Popsicles, cold apple sauce, yogurt, ice cream sandwiches etc are always a nice treat for your toddler when they are really upset. The cold helps their teeth and they like the treat!

Orajel wants to celebrate your child’s smiling milestones – or “Smilestones.” Share your favorite Smilestones on http://on.fb.me/1mFhyj2. From baby’s first tooth, to the first day of school, to their first step! You can be entered to win a grand prize trip for a family of four to Beaches Resorts. How fun!

What are some other tips and tricks you have discovered for teaching your kids healthy dental habits?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel Kids.