A Lifetime of Beautiful, Healthy Smiles
Helping children understand the importance of caring for their teeth and gums can be difficult. They simply do not understand the concept of long-term dental health.
Parents struggle with making dental care something kids want to do. They are just not interested in brushing their teeth every morning and again at night, let alone flossing and using mouthwash. Listed below are some tips that may help you encourage your children to properly care for your teeth.
Educate Your Kids – Children Love to Learn
When children are young, they love learning. By educating your kids about how consistently caring for their teeth will help them avoid cavities, root canals, and the complications of gum disease, they will begin to see the advantage of taking care of their teeth.
One way to help explain this concept to small children is to tell them stories about what can happen when they do not brush their teeth. You can also read books geared specifically to their age group about how they can care for their teeth – you will find a good selection here. This is a great way to help keep children interested in what you are telling them. This method is more successful than trying to push brushing their teeth as something they must do.
Other helpful tools to use when teaching your children about brushing their teeth are children’s animated videos. You will find some good choices on YouTube here.
Let Your Children Choose Their Own Supplies
Another good way to keep kids interested in dental care is to let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. There are many options for children to choose from that feature different colors and designs that are suited to children of all ages. Your child will enjoy brushing more if they get to pick their favorite character or color.
There is also a wide range of American Dental Association (ADA) approved types of toothpaste available featuring different flavors. Children do not usually like the strong minty taste of standard adult toothpaste, so letting them pick their own toothpaste will also encourage good brushing habits. However, you will need to make sure they do not eat it.
Make Dentist Appointments Enjoyable and Fun
Even kids who learn good habits when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth tend to hate the idea of going to the dentist. That is not surprising, when you realize we all know some adults who are afraid to visit the dentist because of stories they have heard or stereotypical television comedy skits they have seen.
Therefore, it is vital to make dental visits fun for your children so they grow up and like to go to the dentist. Most children will only need to go to the dentist for painless exams and teeth cleaning unless they have cavities or other issues. That is another reason to make sure your kids brush and floss – so they can avoid negative experiences at the dentist when they are young.
You can make a trip to the dentist something your children look forward to by following the dental visit with an activity they like to do or taking them somewhere they love to go. If you turn this into a regular routine after every dental visit, it will help your child associate going to the dentist with something fun, and you may find they begin to look forward to their checkup.
Ask Your Dentist in Round Lake to Help
Asking your dentist to help teach your child how to properly care for his or her teeth is also a great way to help teach them proper technique. Children are more likely to listen and take advice about brushing and flossing when they hear it from their dentist. Do your research and make sure to bring them to a trustworthy dentist known for children dentistry in Round Lake Beach.
By choosing a dentist who has a reliable family dentistry practice, you will be able to show your child by example how you enjoy going to the same dentist they do. This is another good reason to choose Reilly & Siegel Family Dental for all your dental needs.
Set a Timer When Your Child Brushes Their Teeth
It can help to set a timer when your child is learning how to brush their teeth. The timer should be set for two minutes – and it does not have to be a stopwatch. It can be two minutes of their favorite song so the time goes by quickly. By making sure they brush for a full two minutes, they are more likely to brush all of their teeth instead of just the front and top teeth.
In Conclusion
The bottom line is that it is extremely important to teach your children, from a young age, how to properly care for their teeth. It is not difficult, and children form habits more easily than adults. However, kids tend to resist the routine involved. By incorporating these tips, you can help your children form good oral hygiene habits that they will carry with them into adulthood.
If you have more questions, or are ready to book your child’s appointment with a dentist at our Round Lake dental office, contact us today. We are always happy to help in any way we can.
