Top Oral Hygiene Tips for 2025 

At Ponte Verda Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we encourage parents to establish consistent oral hygiene habits with their children as early as 12 months old. It may come as a surprise, but children often get their first tooth in year one and upwards of 20 teeth between 2 and 3.

Parents who take the time to teach and practice brushing and flossing with their youngsters help them form oral hygiene habits that can last a lifetime. That’s why the Ponte Vedra family dentistry office team would like to share oral hygiene tips for our valued community members to consider as we head into 2025.

1: Brushing and Flossing Tips

It’s essential to have your children brush their teeth twice every day. Start by flossing your teeth in the morning, followed by brushing. The conventional wisdom behind this process is that bacteria build up in the mouth while people sleep. Flossing removes any caked-on plaque, and brushing before breakfast can help protect tooth enamel.

The best time to schedule a second brushing is after eating for the day. Brushing right before bedtime ensures that crumbs won’t get stuck between your teeth for 8 hours. Mouthwash proves a good value-added hygiene element once youths brush and floss independently.

2: Use Age-Appropriate Oral Hygiene Products

Not every toothbrush is created equal. Children under three years old would be best served using a soft toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste. Kids over three should use a pea-size dab of toothpaste. At ten years old, kids can brush and floss just like adults.

Use quality oral hygiene products such as toothpaste with fluoride and floss that your family feels comfortable using — waxed or unwaxed. Kids may enjoy products that leave them with a minty taste. It may prove helpful to purchase dental floss picks. These small dental hygiene products are suitable for children and teenagers struggling to get long strands between teeth.

3: Drink Water with Fluoride

Ponte Vedra residents rely on fluoride for oral hygiene information as pediatric dentists, so it’s essential to discuss fluoride. Over the last decade, community members have begun moving away from tap water in favor of bottled products. While local families may be concerned about municipal water, it does contain the fluoride necessary to protect and build healthy teeth and gums. Bottle water typically does not provide fluoride.

Residents who filter tap water should also be aware that most systems remove fluoride and other agents they are trying to eliminate. Consider using fluoride supplements if you have transitioned to bottled water or are filtering at the faucet. You may feel more comfortable knowing your loved ones drink purified water and get fluoride to maintain their beautiful smiles.

4: Minimize Sugar in Your Child’s Diet

Sugar and tooth decay go hand in hand. When people drink sugary beverages, candy, or desserts, the plaque lingering on teeth and gums has a feast. The bacteria in the plague dines on sugar, producing a harsh acidic substance that eats away at the enamel, protecting teeth.

This acid removes the coating, making otherwise healthy and robust teeth vulnerable. When kids overeat sugar, higher levels of acid cause dark holes in their teeth that we call cavities, if unchecked, cavities, coupled with sugar-driven acids, can lead to abscesses and the need to perform a childhood tooth extraction.

5: Schedule Regular Pediatric Dentistry Appointments

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages parents to bring their children to schedule and keep a dental appointment every six months. The process usually starts at 12 months or within six months of their first tooth breaking through.

A pediatric dentist will inspect the child’s teeth, conduct a cleaning, and speak with parents about any concerns. Seeing the dentist at an early age and consistently keeping appointments also reinforces the importance of good oral hygiene.

Schedule A Ponte Vedra Family Dentistry Appointment

We hope you find these oral hygiene tips for 2025 helpful in keeping your family’s smiles healthy and bright. If you want to schedule a checkup, contact our office in Ponte Vedra today.