Unhealthy oral hygiene impacts a lot more than just your wallet and your kid’s bright, innocent, sweet smile. If not taken care of properly, it may mean having to convince your kid to undergo a filling for a cavity.
As kids grow, their oral health plays a vital role in their overall health and even their self-esteem and social development. It’s best to teach your kids how to properly take care of their teeth at an early age. From brushing with a hands-free toothbrush to eating less sugary foods and drinks, here are seven oral health tips for teaching your kids.
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1. Turn Oral Hygiene And Brushing Into A Game
It’s tough to get kids to begin brushing their teeth. You may not reach the two-minute mark each and every time due to distractions and several other things, but you can sure get them to try. The best way to ensure they are brushing well enough is to turn it into a game. One way to do this is to use a tartar dye that shows them (and you!) all the teeth surfaces they were able to reach. There are even interactive toothbrushes for kids and apps available.
You could even consider tracking how many times they reach the two-minute goal, offering a small reward for a brushing job well done.
2. Lead By Example
Be a role model and lead by example, instilling good oral health habits and a daily routine. Allow your kids to brush and floss right alongside you as you demonstrate how it’s done. If you treat it as part of your morning and nightly ritual, they will see it as less of a dreaded chore.
3. Teach The Brushing Basics
For very young children, it’s essential to teach them the basics of brushing. For kids under three years of age, show them how much toothpaste to use (a rice-sized squeeze is adequate). Teach kids how to spit once they’re done brushing. When they are ready to advance, then you can allow more toothpaste (think pea-sized amount). And, of course, when their teeth grow in and become more crowded, teach them to floss and rinse with mouthwash.
4. Treat The Dentist Like It’s No Big Deal
Part of leading by example is to keep dental appointments. You can keep a regular twice-a-year routine and, at a very early age, have your children come along for the experience. Show them that it’s nothing to be afraid of and treat it like it’s no big deal.
Children should have their first pediatric specialist dentist visit within six months of getting their first tooth, or sometime around their first birthday. After that, they should visit the dentist two times a year, as the rest of us do.
5. Talk About The Dentist
One way to introduce kids to the dentist is to talk about them. Talk about what it’s like to have to open your mouth wide, how friendly the dentist is and just generally what it’s like. This way, they have a clear expectation.
You can even introduce them to the experience by reading books about teeth and dentists. For example, some wonderful books are Dora Goes To the Dentist and Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer. Children’s books do an excellent job of providing a perspective from a kid’s point of view.
6. Let Kids Pick A Toothbrush
If you have multiple kids, be sure to let each of them pick out their unique toothbrush. Not only does it offer a fun way to engage them with proper oral hygiene, but it keeps germs separated. As a general rule, it’s not safe to allow kids to share items that go in their mouths, whether it’s utensils, sippy cups, bottles or pacifiers, as the germs can be passed from one child’s mouth to the next. The same goes for a toothbrush.
Be sure to rinse the toothbrush, standing it up in a container in between uses. Make sure to sanitize any items that enter a baby’s mouth to prevent bacterial infections like thrush.
7. Encourage Kids To Eat More Nutritiously
One way to ensure your kids have better oral hygiene is to teach them to enjoy healthier foods. Teach them to avoid sugary drinks and foods by explaining to them the consequences and what they can cause: painful cavities.
Children will always reach for a sweet treat, but a little encouragement can steer them to make more nutritious choices like fruit and veggies instead of candy or soda. Here are some easy ways to teach them to make healthy eating habits:
- Let kids help prepare their favorite veggies and side dishes.
- Allow them to bring a stuffed animal or security blanket to meals, as it makes them happier and more willing to try new foods.
- Make healthier food easier to grab. Chop some fruits and veggies into bite-sized chunks and put them in a container on a reachable shelf in the fridge. And hide the cookies!
- Give kids a list of approved snacks. The next time they have a sweet tooth, ask them to find something on the list that is just as satisfying.
Extra Tips For Parents
Seek a Dentist’s Advice
At your child’s first dentist visit, ask them about any concerns you have — crowded teeth, thumb sucking, losing teeth, mouth guards, etc. Also, ask your dentist to give a quick lesson on how to brush kids’ teeth.
Stay Calm And Trust The Dentist
As a parent, your instinct is to comfort your child if they are scared or begin to fuss. But you need to sit back, stay calm, and trust in your dentist.
Don’t Reward Trips To The Dentist
Unlike rewarding them for brushing their teeth every day, twice a day for a month, turn a trip to the dentist into an outing or excursion instead. This way, it teaches your kid that a dentist appointment is not meant to be endured, but should be fun.
