As a guardian and parent, it is important to guide your child regarding dental hygiene, which is a habit a child must imbibe to keep their teeth strong and healthy. It may be difficult to have the children develop this habit, but it is necessary to make it a priority since it will boost their confidence about their smiles, especially when taking family photographs, and also to look their best when hanging out with friends.
If children master the habits of good oral hygiene at an early age, they will grow up to become confident adults who will not have dental issues later on in life. It is better to prevent dental problems than to have them corrected later. Below are a few tips to teach your children how to take care of their teeth.
Teach the Child an Effective Dental Hygiene Routine
To help a child maintain healthy teeth, you need to guide them in an effective oral hygiene routine. Make it a priority for the children to brush twice daily. Pay more attention to children who are not up to the age of nine. It is best for you as a parent to do the flossing for children within this age bracket, but you can also teach them the importance of brushing and how to do so without injuring their gums.
If your child has only developed a few teeth, clean their teeth with a soft cloth or use a very soft toothbrush to clean their teeth at least twice per day. At eighteen months, you can start cleaning their teeth with a very little amount of toothpaste, the toothpaste should be low in fluoride.
Encourage your child to get fluoride treatments in order to prevent tooth decay and make sure they do not swallow the paste while brushing. Tell them or help them brush their teeth at least two times daily — in the morning and right before they go to bed. If possible, teach them to brush after taking sweet substances or after lunch. Brushing properly and regularly helps to break down plaque.
They should brush every part of their teeth, not just the ones in the front. You should spend at least two minutes brushing the sides and back of their teeth. If they are old enough to brush on their own, show them how they can brush their teeth clean without injuring the gums.
Make sure their toothbrushes are not too large and have soft bristles. As parents, get your children new toothbrushes every three months. Some toothbrushes come with colorful bristles. Those colors fade over time to show it is time to change them.
Take the children to the orthodontist if they complain about toothaches. It is also necessary to visit an orthodontic specialist once or two times a year. Apart from looking out for signs of gum disease and cavities, the specialist will help keep their teeth super clean and give them more hints on how to floss and brush properly.
Make Brushing a Fun Learning Experience
Children find it tedious to spend time taking care of their teeth, making it a little difficult to teach them oral hygiene. To encourage them, make dental hygiene fun for them.
1.Buy them toothbrushes with their favorite TV characters. Have them choose brilliant colors that will excite them. This will set them in the mood to brush their teeth regularly.
2.Purchase fun-filled musical materials that teach children how to brush their teeth properly, have them sing and dance along as they brush.
3.Read them a book on oral hygiene and give them good reasons why it is important to maintain good dental health.
4.Encourage them with a hug every time they succeed during a brushing session. Tell them they have beautiful strong teeth and the most beautiful smile because their teeth are clean and healthy.
5.Give them a beautiful gift as a reward for keeping their teeth clean always.
Monitor Every Sugary Treats They Sink their Teeth into
1.Your children should avoid all candies, especially sour candies, which are acidic and could damage tooth enamel.
2.Monitor the cookies and cakes they eat, as they are high in sugar and could cause tooth damage when consumed in an unrestricted amount.
3.Sticky and chewy sweets should be avoided because children have small teeth crevices, and those sweets may get stocked and cause tooth decay.
Feed Them Healthy Foods
Educate the children about the kind of foods that will help their teeth remain strong and healthy. You should also tell them why some foods are good for consumption and others are not. Set an example with the adults at home, thereby getting your whole family to adhere to a teeth-friendly diet, as adults also need proper oral hygiene.
In addition to this, avoid giving children sugary sodas, juices, and energy drinks. Diet soda can also cause damages to the teeth. You should also cut down their consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods such as potato chips, pasta, and snack bars.
Dairy products like cheese and milk are great snacking options, as they help protect the teeth from acid erosion. Instead of giving them sugary snacks, you should consider giving them fruits such as peaches and apples. You can also give them nuts and cereals, as they are less likely to cause any damage.
Encourage Children through Consistent Learning
Children do better if you keep reminding them how important it is to take care of their oral health. Allow your children to learn about great dental hygiene on their own. Let them learn from online resource materials, such as videos. If they have questions bothering them, encourage them with appropriate answers.
One of the vital aspects of education is teaching children good oral health habits. Make sure your children are part of every presentation regarding oral health in their school. It is also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the orthodontic specialist will help keep your teeth extra clean and can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.
Remind the children that flossing and brushing are not just the only things that keep their teeth healthy, they also need to be mindful of the drinks and food that goes into their mouth. Tell them that there are plaques on their teeth waiting for the arrival of sugar. Give the children plenty of fruits, milk, and veggies, and they should consume more water than soda.