Encouraging Great Oral Hygiene Habits for Your Child

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Raising the kids is a challenging task.

Every day, you need to chase down your little munchkins all around the clock and make them wash their hands, eat, sleep, and embrace all their healthy habits. Yet teaching them the importance of adopting a proper dental care routine is also one of the trials parents often pass through. 

Our post here is meant for all those parents who care for their kids’ dental health and want to teach them the importance of brushing, flossing, and regular dentist visits. 

Teaching them great dental care will take some patience and creativity, but there are easy ways to do it.

If you’re a parent who’s worried about your kid’s oral health, it’s time to offer help to your little one. With the right approach, you can even do it in a hassle-free way. Read on to find how to encourage great dental hygiene habits for your children.

Teach Them Proper Dental Care or Lead by Example 

Great dental health starts with good oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene leads to an accumulation of bacteria and plaque, and this results in a wide range of dental conditions. Kids love to imitate adults. Not only that, but they also learn very much through conversation. One of the smart ways to teach them dental hygiene from the very start is by being a good example. 

Make sure they’re around when you brush your teeth twice daily. Let them ask questions, and watch and even give you a helping hand. You should also involve them in your flossing routine and make it seem enjoyable and interesting. Listen to your favorite song while doing it. Or why not promise compensation every time they do it right. 

Another important aspect of leading by example, when it comes to good oral hygiene for children is how you voice your dental experiences. 

Most of the time, people experience anxieties surrounding dentist visits. You should not pass any of those fears to your child if you want them to practice good dental health. If you had some bad experiences with your dentist, that doesn’t mean your kid will have that too.

The way kids perceive going to the dentist as a kid will likely shape the way they regard trips to the in the long run. 

Get Them Interested in Brushing 

Experts say that kids should learn how to brush their teeth from the age of two, with assistance from their parents. Proper oral hygiene at an early stage in life will fend of cavities, plaque, and many major dental problems they might experience later on in life. Great dental hygiene includes a full mouth cleaning at least once a day, including proper brushing, mouthwash, and flossing.

The best way to ensure your child is practicing proper oral hygiene is to join him in his brushing routine. They imitate almost everything their parents do. And since they look up to everything you do, ensure you lead by example. You cannot brush and floss your child’s teeth forever -in fact, brushing and flossing should be one of the first things your little ones learn. The sooner you learn them brushing and flossing, the better. All you need to do is to encourage them to brush their own teeth when the time is right.

The secret to getting your little ones interested in brushing and flossing is setting a routine as early as reasonably as possible.

The thing is that some kiddos will definitely see through this trick. Some will complain about it, while others will fight not to brush and floss. Your job is to make brushing playful and fun. Consider the following steps:

• Whenever possible, join them when brushing, and make this habit enjoyable by listening to your favourite tunes, playing interactive mirror games, and more.
• When shopping for dental hygiene products, let them pick their own toothpaste and toothbrush- go for a toothbrush design with their favorite movie or TV character to make brushing fun.
• The internet is booming with interactive cartoons and video games meant to get kids interested in brushing.
• Cue – Routine – Reward. Ensure you reward your little one after completing good dental hygiene practices and let them know about it.

Patience is all you need – be mindful whenever you approach this subject. You don’t want to make it seem like you’re forcing brushing or flossing on your child. Instead, make this routine enjoyable, and they will be eager to do it.

Practice Regular Dentist Visits 

Good brushing and routine flossing help keep bacteria and germs away, but they are not always enough. For this reason, it is important to visit your Campbelltown dentist at least every six months. These regular checkups will help identify and treat any apparent conditions early before they get worse.

As you probably know, there are lots of stereotypes about taking your munchkin to the dentist: bottom line, children don’t really love dentist visits. And who can blame them? Yet you can teach them that there is nothing to fear. What you can do is to get them used to the concept of general medical and dental checkups. It is also vital to choose a dentist who is not only qualified but also great with kids. A good dentist for children is one who can encourage proper dental hygiene in a fun and enjoyable way.

Bonus Tips to Hook Up Your Child with Good Dental Practices 

If your kid is practicing good dental hygiene and is showing signs of unusual conditions, don’t hesitate to consult with a specialist. Complex dental conditions such as dental bone deformity or misalignment can be treated safely without any need for surgery.

If your children need braces when they’re older, don’t worry. Your dentist is best placed to refer them to an orthodontist. Complex dental conditions such as dental bone or misaligned can be treated safely without the need for surgery.