Let's face it: it can be hard to get your children to brush their teeth. When they are little you can help by holding the toothbrush and standing watch in the bathroom each morning and night, but you can't do that forever. When the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) announces that 42% of American children have had cavities, however, parents need to step up their game in the war against plaque. 

1. Brush more: Most parents have their children brush their teeth in the morning, before school, and at night right before bed. While you can't ask your kids to take a toothbrush to school, they could brush when they get home each day. Brushing a third time, after their post-school snack, can help remove any food residue and plaque on their teeth from lunch. 

2. Floss: Everyone likes to tell their dentist that they floss more than they actually do. While it isn't difficult to take an extra minute or two doing this dental hygiene task, children need to be taught what to do. Head back up to that bathroom and have a flossing lesson or two with your child. You want them to develop good habits in life, like flossing. 

3. Detection tabs: If you suspect that your child just isn't doing a good job of brushing, your dentist can provide you with dental detection tabs. These little chewable dots will turn any residual plaque left after brushing red so you can see which surfaces were brushed well and which were not. They are a great tool to use when reinforcing good brushing habits. Children need to know that all areas need to be thoroughly cleaned. 

4. Mouthwash: As an added insurance against cavities, buy a child-approved mouthwash. Most come in flavors that kids enjoy and are designed to squeeze a predetermined amount into a dispenser so there is no wasted product. Teach them to swish and spit. Like toothpaste, mouthwash is not meant to be swallowed. Plus, the swishing action can help children reach areas that they may have missed with brushing and flossing.

5. Fluoride coating: There is a reason that there is fluoride in your drinking water, your toothpaste, and your mouthwash. The CDC states that it can safely reduce the risk of tooth decay. In fact, water fluoridation has reduced the amount of tooth decay in children by 60 percent. If your child is cavity-prone, however, you can take an extra step to help prevent cavities. Your dentist can apply a fluoride coating to your child's teeth as an extra protection against plaque between dental cleaning visits. 

6. Additional cleanings: If you try all of the above tricks to help your cavity-prone child avoid cavities and it still isn't working, you can schedule extra cleanings. Most dentists suggest having a hygienist clean your teeth once every six months, or twice a year, and almost all dental insurances limit their coverage to two cleanings as well. You can, however, schedule cleanings every three months, or quarterly, in an attempt to prevent cavities. You will more than likely have to pay for the extra cleanings out of pocket, but it could be worth it to help your child fight cavities. Plus, you do not need to see the actual dentist during the extra visits, so the cost would be limited to the cleaning itself and would not include the cost of a dental exam. 

Some children are just more susceptible to getting cavities, whether it is due to genetics or simply poor oral hygiene. Helping your child brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash can help cut down on plaque in their mouth, and using fluoride treatments and extra cleanings can help as well. Try all the tricks to see what works best for your family. 

Call a business like Mundo Dentistry for more information.