Caring for your overall physical health is very important and requires a lot of good choices and habits, habits we need to help our children learn, as well. One important aspect of health is ensuring that you are properly caring for your teeth and oral health. Here are five easy tips to teach your children that can help them develop healthy habits for their teeth.
See the Dentist Regularly
Both the AAPD and the American Academy of Pediatrics say you should take your child to the dentist by his first birthday. In addition to conducting a thorough oral exam, the dentist will obtain a dental history, guide parents on proper brushing habits and cavity prevention, and establish how often a child should visit, among other things. Seeing a dentist is a great way to ensure that your children are properly cleaned and that all plaque is removed. It can also help you to identify and care for dental challenges and issues before they turn into larger problems. You should try and have your kids see a dentist at least twice per year. Doing this will help your kids start to build habits of seeing healthcare providers, which can offer a range of benefits for years to come.
Brush and Floss Each Night
One of the most important factors that can influence the health of anyone’s teeth is whether or not they brush and floss their teeth each day. Kids and grownups, alike, should aim to brush and floss their teeth at least twice per day. Ideally, this should be done after eating breakfast and before bed. To ensure that your kids build good habits, you should start helping them with this as soon as they start to grow teeth. This is then a habit that they will carry with themselves for the rest of their lives, which can ensure they keep their teeth clean between dental visits. Technique is also important! Tilt the bristles a bit toward the gums and gently brush in tiny little circles, touching every surface of each tooth. As for flossing, no matter how well you brush your child's teeth, if they are touching you're not going to be able to get all the food or plaque out. Those little-kid disposable flossers are fine, as long as you still pull the floss firmly against the sides of each tooth.
Make it Fun
While dental care is important for all kids, they may find that it is not very fun and inconvenient when they’d rather be doing other things. Fortunately, there are tips that you can follow that can help to make it more fun for your kids. Some of the ways that you can do this are by using kid-friendly toothbrushes and toothpaste or even playing some of their favorite songs while they are brushing and flossing at night. This could help them create a positive association with keeping their teeth clean and healthy.
Don’t be afraid to get your children’s teeth straightened
Eventually, your child may need to have their teeth straightened. It’s very common for teeth to grow in without being completely straight. To ensure that they are able to enjoy a healthy smile while also avoiding more serious dental challenges in the future, having their teeth straightened may be a good idea. Make sure you look for a reputable and reliable practice and don’t be shy to ask lots of questions before making a decision.
Focus on Diet
One of the most important factors that will influence the health and appearance of your teeth is your diet. Those that eat a healthy diet that is full of fiber, calcium, vitamins, and lean protein will develop stronger bones and teeth. Those that eat too much sugar and do not clean their teeth properly afterward could see their teeth start to rot and decay. Eventually, this could result in cavities and other challenges. By encouraging your kids to think about their health when eating food and avoid too many unhealthy snacks, you could help them form habits that will keep their teeth strong and healthy for years to come.
