Pediatric Oral Care Tips - How To Reduce Cavities Naturally

If you have a young child in the house, then you probably know that you need to help your son or daughter with oral care to reduce cavity concerns. Cavities in the baby teeth can lead to early baby tooth loss, nutrition problems, and the decay of the adult teeth that are beginning to form in the jaw. If you are the type of parent that likes natural products, then there are definitely some natural things you can do to help keep child cavities at bay.

Create A Remineralizing Toothpaste

If your child is over the age of three, then your pediatric dentist has likely informed you that you can start using fluoride toothpaste on your child's teeth. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps to strengthen the strands of calcium and phosphate that make up the dental enamel. Fluoride also helps to redeposit minerals in the enamel when acidic foods eat away at the teeth. This is called remineralization, and it is extremely important for children since the enamel is thinner across the baby teeth than it is on the adult teeth. However, some children may actually be getting too much fluoride, since the mineral is placed in the drinking water. This can cause fluorosis to develop where the teeth become discolored. 

While you can purchase toothpastes without fluoride, these pastes will not help with remineralization. Also, many toothpastes on the market will contain some chemicals, and this may not be inline with your natural lifestyle. To help prevent cavities and to make sure the dental enamel remains strong, create your own natural remineralization toothpaste at home.

To create the toothpaste, you will need some calcium powder and diatomaceous earth. Both of these ingredients contain minerals like calcium, silica, magnesium, boron, and copper to help strengthen the teeth. The diatomaceous earth is also abrasive, so it will remove food and plaque from the teeth as your child brushes. You will also need some xylitol powder. This will help reduce the bitter taste of the paste, and the sweetener will also create a barrier over the surface of the teeth to keep bacteria from sticking to the enamel. Purchase some peppermint oil to add flavoring to the paste and also some coconut oil to make it creamy.

To make the paste, place ten teaspoons of calcium powder, two teaspoons of diatomaceous earth, and six teaspoons of xylitol sweetener in a bowl. Mix the powder ingredients together and then mix in about one to two teaspoons of the coconut oil. Add five to ten drops of the peppermint oil. Place the toothpaste in a small airtight container and set it in the refrigerator. Then add about a pea-sized amount of the paste to your child's toothbrush so he or she can brush the teeth.

Make A Natural Rinse

Most dentists advise parents not to give their children mouthwashes. Rinses contain fluoride and can contribute to fluorosis concerns. Also, young children do not typically spit oral rinses like they should. Your child may end up swallowing alcohol or fluoride, and both of these things can cause toxicity symptoms if too much is consumed. However, a rinse can be a great addition to your child's oral care routine, since most rinses kill bacteria that cause cavities to form. 

The best rinse for a young child is one that kills bacteria but is not harmful when it is swallowed. Many natural essential oils are safe to ingest, and they kill oral bacteria. Tea tree oil, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, and eucalyptus kill microorganisms. Choose two anti-microbial oils that complement each other for the rinse. For example, tea tree oil complements lavender well, and lemongrass will taste good with eucalyptus. If your child is a bit fussy, then go with a mixture of peppermint and cinnamon. 

Place five drops of each oil in a container with about one and a half cups of water. If you want the rinse to assist with remineralization, then add a few teaspoons of calcium carbonate powder or a few drops of trace mineral liquid. Once the ingredients are added, shake up the mixture. Place about two tablespoons of the rinse in a small cup when your child brushes his or her teeth and encourage them to move the rinse around the mouth and spit it out afterwards. 

For more information and tips for helping keep your child's teeth healthy, contact a local dentist or visit websites like http://www.nwidentist.com/.