As parents, we all want our kids to develop healthy habits for taking care of their teeth. Not only does proper oral hygiene help ensure kids have strong and beautiful smiles that last a lifetime, but it also reduces the chance they’ll suffer from painful cavities and other dental problems. If you’re looking for ways to help your children stay on top of tooth brushing and flossing, we’ve got 4 ideas you can use to make sure these important daily tasks become an integral part of your kids’ routine!
Establish a Regular Routine for Brushing and Flossing
Caring for their teeth is such an important part of a child’s overall health. Establishing a regular brushing and flossing routine is an important step in making sure they keep their mouths healthy. To make it fun yet effective, you can try setting up prizes for brushing and flossing on time as a reward system. This will undoubtedly make children more eager to brush and floss daily, which they should be doing anyways two times a day! Plus, what kid doesn’t love rewards? Establishing a routine or habit early on in life will help your children see how beneficial it is to not need cavities filled every time they go to the dentist!
Limit Sugary Snacks and Drinks
Taking care of our teeth is a vitally important part of living a healthy life in the long term. Eating sugary snacks and drinking sugary drinks on a regular basis can be detrimental to dental health, as such it’s important to try and limit their intake, both for adults and children alike. Parents should explain to their children why eating too many sweets, gummy candies, or syrupy drinks can be unhealthy for their teeth. While it’s definitely harder, it’s worth also teaching them the benefits of brushing their teeth after consuming heavily-sugared products. Not only do parents need to demonstrate this behavior themselves but they can also make it fun by incorporating positive rewards which don’t encourage binging on sugar-filled foods. Putting this into practice will ensure the health of kids’ teeth both now and in the future!
Teach Proper Dental Hygiene Habits
Teaching proper dental hygiene habits to children is an important part of helping them keep their teeth healthy. Showing them the correct way to brush and floss will support a lifetime of good oral health, so it’s important that they learn properly from the beginning. Making sure they know why they should visit the dentist regularly and how visits can help prevent issues like cavities and even gum disease could ease any anxiety they might have about going. If you need help, many dental hygienists would be happy to teach skills on how to floss properly, and can often even give tips on brushing as well. Helping your children develop good habits around their teeth early on will provide a strong foundation for their dental care later in life.
Be a Role Model
As parents, we want our children to learn healthy habits that they can carry with them throughout life. A great place to start is by demonstrating and modeling these habits ourselves! When it comes to dental care, let your child see you brushing and flossing your teeth every day as well as attending regular dental appointments for check-ups. This will help them understand the importance of caring for their own oral health and encourages them that taking care of their teeth is a natural part of their everyday routine. Moreover, it sets a precedent for the type of relationship with the dentist they should strive to maintain over time. It also helps when you’ve got a consistent family dentist that you see, someone who can help you instill the importance of dental responsibility in your children. Be a role model in dental hygiene – when your children see you being mindful and responsible about taking care of your own teeth, they’ll likely follow in your footsteps.
As a parent, you have a big impact on your child’s oral health journey. It all starts with setting up good habits and routines early on. You can make it fun by incentivizing brushing and flossing every morning and evening, while also keeping track of sweet snacks and sugary drinks. Teaching proper dental hygiene and being a great role model will show them the importance of taking care of their teeth. Remember that no matter what age your children are, it’s never too late to teach them about dental health. Setting up the right tools for success now will pay healthy dividends in the future!
Written by: Meghan Belnap / Blogger, Researcher, and Freelance Writer
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being outdoors and researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
