Good oral hygiene helps prevent gum disease, bad breath, and cavities. It can sometimes be challenging to teach children good oral hygiene habits. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get your kids to take good care of their teeth. Below are some tips that will help you teach good oral hygiene habits and help you prepare them for habits they’ll need for the rest of their lives.
Lead By Example
Children want to imitate what they see grown-ups doing. You should brush and floss your teeth in front of your children, and explain the best way to brush gently and hold the floss. This will teach children that brushing and flossing are necessary parts of their daily routine.
Explain The Importance of Brushing
Many children do not understand why it is important for them to take care of their teeth. That is why you should talk to them about good oral hygiene. Talk to your children about teeth, why they are important, how they work, and why brushing and flossing every day is necessary. You may also want to consider getting DVDs and books from your local library, or Coquitlam Centre Dental Clinic that talk about why brushing is necessary.
Make Brushing A Fun Activity
You can teach your children that brushing can be fun by making a game out of it. For example, tell your children they are fighting the plaque “monsters” by brushing and flossing their teeth. You might also let your children brush their doll’s teeth.
Supervise Children While They Are Brushing
Most children will not brush their teeth the correct way the first few times that they brush. That is why you should supervise children while they are brushing. Supervise your children until they are comfortable enough to brush on their own.
Take Your Child to The Dentist Early
In addition to making sure your children brush and floss on a daily basis, you should also take them to a dentist. Dentists can teach you how to properly care for your children’s teeth. A Port Moody dentist will also perform an examination in order to look for potential problems, such as gum disease and cavities. Taking your children to the dentist early will help them get adjusted to the environment. Most experts recommend that your children see the dentist by their first birthday.
Good oral hygiene habits are the key to keeping your children’s teeth happy. You should brush and floss in front of your children so that they can see that it is an important thing to do. You should also talk to them about why it is necessary to floss and brush. All these tips are great for introducing your children to important hygiene habits and getting them learned early on.
