The key to having good oral health is having amazing oral health habits, and these should start at a very young age. Parents should teach their children how important their teeth are and how they should be taken care of. Showing your children how to take care of their teeth from an early age is truly an investment in their future. This will limit the number of dental issues they may face as they grow older and will ensure they will have a full set of healthy teeth for life. In this article, you will find a couple of tips and tricks on how to achieve this.
Teach through example
Kids, especially young ones, learn by repeating what they see around them. Thus, you must set a good example in regards to your own oral health habits. Let them see you brushing your teeth and flossing. If they are paying attention, use the opportunity to explain (in a fun yet educational way) the correct way of doing it, by singing a song for example. If you don’t know any songs about brushing your teeth, rest assured that you will find more than one on YouTube.
Also, when it is time for your routine dental checkups, make sure that your children know you are going to a dental clinic near you and show them that you are excited. If you show signs of stress, it can cause them to feel stressed, but if you show excitement it will excite them. If they are old enough, try to explain the importance of going to the dentist regularly. Seeing you thrilled about visiting may help them develop an idea of the dentist different from something that should be feared and avoided.
Make it fun!
Your kids will be more excited about brushing their teeth and flossing if the experience isn’t dull and boring. First of all, you should start by taking them to the store and letting them choose their own toothbrush. If you let them use one that has their favourite character or cartoon, they will be eager to use it every day. Just make sure that they pick a soft-bristle toothbrush as it is appropriate for a child’s teeth and mouth. When it comes time to brush their teeth, try to incorporate a fun routine that gets your child pumped. There are plenty of catchy songs online that are helpful in this regard.
Take them to a pediatric dentist near you
All children should visit a dental clinic in Millwoods from the moment their first tooth erupts. This visit has many reasons, with the first one being that your child will start to get accustomed to the dentist and will develop some level of trust that will make the whole experience of visiting a dental office less problematic. Also, a pediatric dentist can identify dental problems in very early stages and can recommend certain treatments that could fix these issues before they become greater. You should keep in mind that routinely taking your kid to a pediatric dentist in Millwoods will result in habits that will be carried on into adulthood.
Watch what they eat
As you know, sugary foods and drinks are a huge cause of cavities, especially in children. Thus, it is important to limit their intake. This is particularly hard, because children love sweets and sugary drinks, but it is necessary. On the other hand, other foods promote healthy teeth and should be incorporated into their diet. Some examples are apples, eggs, yogurt, cheese, milk, carrots, nuts, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables. Not only are these foods good for your child’s teeth, but also their overall health, so introducing them to their diet is a win-win situation that you shouldn’t let go.