27
Mar
As a parent, you understand how difficult it can be to teach a child new habits. It requires so much effort, time, and patience. You put in all your effort, and still, there is no guarantee your effort will bear fruit. Similarly, as far as teaching your child proper oral care habits is concerned, it is challenging. But that is the fun and challenges you experience once you have a child, and it is among the most satisfying and pleasant things a person can experience. This blog compiles useful tips to help teach your young ones how to maintain good oral hygiene.
Teaching Good Oral Hygiene
One of pediatric dentistry's goals is to ensure children understand how valuable oral health is. This is made possible with help from parents and guardians.
As a parent, the eruption of your child's first tooth always warrants celebration. It is also during this period that your child solely relies on you to maintain the health of their gums and primary teeth. After some years, it will be time for your young one to take care of their dental hygiene. But they will still need your positive example and guidance to kick-start them on a lifetime of proper oral care habits.
If you are a first-time parent, you can consult with a pediatric dentist regarding what you must do to teach your child. Here are the various techniques you should consider as far as teaching your child proper oral hygiene is concerned:
Begin Teaching at Early Childhood
Proper oral hygiene routines learned at a young age last a lifetime; thus, you want to teach your child as soon as possible. That is because the development of teeth can significantly affect your minor's general well-being. Bad dental health routines can result in cavities (dental caries), tooth infections, periodontal disease (gum disease), difficulty eating, and other dental problems.
The sooner your child learns to brush their baby teeth properly, the easier it will be for them to keep up with this crucial dental routine when they grow permanent teeth. Proper oral health habits go hand in hand with several other aspects of establishing a solid lifestyle for a child, like setting a routine, eating healthily, being in charge of their health, and their capability to follow instructions.
Bring The Child to the Dentist Early
Regular dental visits are among the best ways to prevent dental problems early. This will help the child get used to having a dentist examine their jaw, tongue, and teeth.
Pediatric dentists recommend scheduling dental visits when a child turns 12 months old or approximately six months from the eruption of their first tooth, whichever happens first. This period might seem too early to schedule a dental visit, but it is ideal. After the eruption of the first tooth, the tooth will be at risk of plaque. The dental professional will educate you about your child's tooth development.
Scheduling dental visits early will help them create a long-term relationship with their dental team. Most children go to the same dentist as they grow. Thus, it is crucial to establish that trust early enough. Most pediatric dentists understand how to make your minor feel comfortable and safe and can also answer their questions on preventing tooth decay and maintaining proper dental care. This guidance will help your child's baby teeth remain healthy and strong before permanent teeth grow.
The initial dental appointment is also the appropriate time to educate you, the parent, regarding the best ways of achieving a healthy, attractive smile. Practicing proper dental hygiene at an early age can assist in preventing poor dental habits. Additionally, it can assist the child in appreciating dental appointments. Investing time, money, and effort in your child's dental hygiene is critical for proper growth and development. The minor can observe dental care habits as permanent teeth start to grow.
After your child begins brushing and flossing their teeth on their own, their dental professional can assist them in understanding the significance of routine hygiene and the implications of failing to brush. The dental team will monitor the child for dental caries and prepare them for a more engaging dental procedure, such as orthodontic treatment or fillings, when and if they become necessary.
The dentist can also teach your minor the correct way to floss and why flossing is as critical as brushing to maintain excellent dental hygiene.
Some dental clinics also offer emergency dentistry if your minor has a cracked, chipped, or dislodged tooth. You want to save your child’s dentist's phone number so your young one receives emergency care quickly. The relationship between your minor and their pediatric dentist can last a lifetime. Your minor will eventually look forward to visiting the dentist if they continue to have positive experiences during their visits.
Have Teaching Moments
Minors usually absorb information immediately. At this young age, a parent must teach whatever they can regarding oral health. Establishing an ideal foundation for good dental cleaning will benefit the minor as they become adults. You can utilize colorful pediatric dental visual aids to encourage the child to participate in the oral care lesson. You want to always teach by example.
Establish a Routine
Children perform well in repetitive or routine activities. This permits them to find stability in daily activities. Dental hygiene in the evening, morning, and lunchtime assists children in practicing oral care habits. Practice makes flossing and brushing better.
Encourage Your Child to Make Personal Decisions
You can let oral hygiene become a personal choice for your child. Allowing your child to pick their toothbrush design and toothpaste flavor will make everything easier. Pediatric dental accessory manufacturers have products for children. Toothpaste, flosses, and toothbrushes are made in different characters, designs, and colors that children find attractive. Allowing your child to choose their preferred product is an ideal way to make oral health care a fun activity.
Find Creative TechniquesOf Promoting Good Oral Hygiene
You can successfully teach your child proper oral hygiene with a daily routine of brushing and flossing your teeth simultaneously when they do theirs. Explain why brushing and flossing are essential and how fluoride toothpaste minimizes the likelihood of developing dental caries. Ensure you emphasize spitting the toothpaste into the sink and not swallowing any.
Have the child brush each region for a specific period and utilize a timer to assist you in establishing an association with taking time to brush, for example, thirty seconds per quadrant. This will prevent quick scrubbing from happening, which can lead to the child missing out on removing food particles from the gum line and tooth enamel.
Make Good Oral Hygiene Teachings Fun
Children learn by mimicking their parents, siblings, and everyone around them. Also, they are motivated or encouraged to learn if the activity is more fun. To teach your child proper dental habits and oral hygiene, it is critical to make oral hygiene fun. Various tips to make teaching oral and dental hygiene fun include the following:
Play Music
Everybody loves music, be it an adult or a child. Music can make boring activities interesting and exciting. Teaching your child oral habits while playing music will help them develop an interest. Once your child starts learning oral routines with interest, teaching them will be easier. Plus, the more fun you have, the longer the brushing will be. Therefore, find fun oral hygiene songs to play or sing during teeth cleanings. You can also read the child fun oral hygiene stories while they brush to motivate them.
Reward Them for Learning Faster
Whenever you reward your child with attractive and cute gifts, it motivates them to learn faster. You want to use this technique. You only need to inform your child that they can earn attractive gifts such as eatables, clothes, dolls, a gold star, or toys if they learn good oral routines quickly. It will undoubtedly work for you, as they will feel motivated to finish their daily dental hygiene activities.
Find Your Child Different Kinds of Cute Toothbrushes
Children love cute things. Give them different toothbrushes and allow them to pick the toothbrush that interests them based on cartoon, color, grip, and design. Most dental clinics offer cost-free toothbrushes for children, but you could also buy a musical brush and dance a little while it plays music.
Letting the child have a choice assists them in owning their oral routines. It also helps develop the child's interest in learning good dental care routines, and it is a useful technique to teach the child how to maintain excellent oral hygiene.
Play Dental Cleaning Games
From old-school methods to phone apps, there are fun dental cleaning games you can play with your child. This could be a special period you spend with them daily that will yield a positive long-term relationship.
Come Down To Your Child's Level
You cannot teach your child good oral habits until you become a child with them. Therefore, when teaching your child good dental care routines, awaken your childish character and make learning fun for them. Your child will undoubtedly enjoy that, and it would be easier for you to teach them oral care habits.
Brush Your Teeth With Your Child
Usually, children observe and copy their parents and loved ones. They observe what those close to them do and try doing the same. You want to take advantage of this behavior in your child and teach them proper dental habits.
Once you wake up, motivate your child to floss and brush. Take them to the bathroom with you, brush and floss in front of them, and allow them to observe and copy you. Teaching the child some proper oral and dental care habits would be effective.
Teach Your Child To Avoid Junk and Sugary Foods
Junk foods and sugary eatables such as candies, cakes, and chocolates will harm your child's oral health. They can lead to the development of cavities, tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, tooth stains, tooth worms, and paleness. Therefore, preventing your child from eating junk and sugary foods is essential. The following are useful tips to keep your child away from junk and sugary foods:
Lead as an Example
Usually, children observe what their parents do and learn several things from them. You want to always remember this. If you want to stop your child from overeating junk foods, candies, and chocolates, you must also avoid doing so; otherwise, the child will not listen to you. Thus, set a good example for your child, which will bear fruit.
Minimize the Supplies
Understandably, no parent would want to minimize the supply of candies, chocolates, and junk food for the love of their young ones. However, you must do it for your child's healthy oral health. This tip will not entirely keep your child from eating unhealthy foods, but it will substantially impact your child's oral health.
Let the Child Enjoy Their Favorite Foods (Except Junk and Sugary Foods)
Your child's oral health will be more likely to be jeopardized if they eat plenty of junk and sugary foods. You want to prevent this from happening. Allowing your child to enjoy their favorite foods (excluding junk and sugary foods) is an ideal way of doing that. Following this tip would be helpful.
Promise Your Child a Special Treat
Young ones love special treatment from their parents. Usually, they obey their parents and will do anything they are told just to have that special treatment. Thus, promising your child a surprise reward or special treatment is one of the most effective ways of dealing with them. Just tell them you have a reward or special treat for them, and for them to have that, they must avoid eating junk foods and sugary items too much. This can also be a helpful tip for you.
Benefits of Teaching Proper Oral Hygiene To Your Children
Minors need to learn the significance of proper oral health care early enough. Establishing proper oral hygiene routines early will lead to healthier gums and teeth for a lifetime. Sadly, most parents do not recognize the importance of teaching their children proper oral hygiene routines until it is too late. This can lead to dental issues and pain throughout the child's adulthood.
The most critical thing parents can do to assist their children in having healthy gums and teeth is to instill proper dental hygiene routines. This includes flossing and brushing twice daily, avoiding sugary drinks and snacks, and using fluoride toothpaste. Additionally, ensuring children visit their dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups is essential.
The earlier minors start practicing proper oral hygiene routines, the better. Not only do flossing and brushing help keep gums and teeth healthy, but they also help prevent gum disease and cavities. Children who begin flossing and brushing early face a minimal risk of suffering gum disease and dental decay when they are old. Also, proper oral health routines can assist children in developing healthy routines in other aspects of their lives.
Teaching minors the significance of dental hygiene can also assist them in understanding the significance of caring for their bodies generally. Caring for their gums and teeth can assist them in realizing the importance of caring for their body in other ways.
Lastly, proper oral hygiene routines for children can assist parents in saving money in the long run. Learning proper oral hygiene routines early can assist in minimizing the need for dental treatments later in life.
Other ways you and your child can benefit from teaching good oral hygiene include the following:
- It enhances the development of permanent teeth.
- It reduces the risk of having tooth sensitivity during adulthood.
- It helps establish a proactive attitude toward healthy habits.
- It reduces the cost of dentistry by eliminating or minimizing the need for restorative dentistry between checkups.
- It minimizes the likelihood of developing dental diseases like periodontitis, dental caries, tooth pain, tooth decay, sensitive teeth, and premature tooth loss.
- It creates positive experiences at every dental visit.
- It assists in mitigating risk factors for stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, or dementia once they grow older.
- It increases acceptance of a healthy diet, such as sugarless gum, healthy snacks, apple slices, etc.
In a nutshell, teaching children proper oral hygiene routines early is crucial for maintaining a healthy smile for their entire lives. Proper dental hygiene habits can not only prevent gum disease and cavities but also assist children in building self-esteem and self-confidence. As a parent, you have so much to do. You should spare time to teach your child the significance of proper oral health care. Take their dental professional as your partner to help them keep up with oral hygiene routines that result in optimal dental health care.
Find a Professional Dentist Near Me
At The Whittier Dentist, we would like to assist each of our young patients in learning a proper oral hygiene routine. We will teach you and your child how to safeguard their growing smiles. We aim to provide our patients with a unique and fun dental experience. Contact us today at 562-632-1223 to schedule a dental visit for your child and for you to learn more about assisting them in creating excellent oral routines.
