It can be difficult to ensure that your children take good care of their teeth. Try out these tips for proper oral hygiene for kids!
About 3.5 billion people around the world struggle with oral diseases. Setting a high standard for your child’s oral hygiene now can benefit them into adulthood. You can ensure their healthy, stunning smiles for years to come.
Want to learn more about oral hygiene for kids? Read on for the eight tips you need to help improve your child’s dental health.
With these tips, they’ll feel excited to show off their smiles during their next dentist appointment.
Read on to learn more!
1. Brush as a Family
Children tend to mimic the adults around them. One of the best ways to improve oral hygiene for kids is to use these tips as a family. When your child sees you brushing and flossing, they’ll want to join in!
Have your child stand beside you in front of the bathroom mirror each time they need to brush and floss.
If it’s their first time brushing on their own, make sure to give them a complete demonstration. Then, ask them to mimic your steps. Don’t hesitate to adjust their technique if necessary.
The entire process of brushing your teeth should take about two minutes. Walk your child through the steps, including:
- Wet the brush with a small amount of water
- Add a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the brush
- Brush gums and teeth using gentle, short strokes
- Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle
- Brush the outside of each tooth
- Get the back and upper areas of chewing surfaces
- Brush your tongue
- Spit out saliva, water, and toothpaste into the sink
- Rinse your mouth out with cold water
Consider setting a timer to make sure you and your child are brushing your teeth for a full two minutes.
Next, walk your child through flossing their teeth. If they’re still young, they might need help. That’s okay!
You might consider using floss picks in the future, too.
Help your child recognize why oral hygiene and brushing are important as well. Brushing will keep bacteria and food particles away from their teeth. Otherwise, bacteria and food particles can mix to form plaque.
Plaque can stick to their teeth and gums, leading to decay in the future.
Schedule time in your morning and evening routines to brush as a family. Brushing together could help them remain accountable, too.
2. Start Singing
If your child is struggling to brush for a full two minutes, consider playing music while brushing your teeth together. Try to find a song that’s about two minutes long. Make sure it’s a song your child loves, too.
Encourage them to brush, floss, and dance along to the music as they brush their teeth.
They can even sing into their brush like it’s a microphone!
Playing music while brushing your teeth can help ensure your child isn’t cutting the process short. It can also make the process a little more fun. Turn every brushing session into a mini dance party to keep them engaged.
3. Consider Their Diet
We are what we eat! Improving your child’s diet can benefit their dental health, too. Consider what they’re eating every day.
First, try to minimize their daily intake of sugar. Sugar can increase their risk of tooth decay and bacteria. Minimize their intake of ice cream, candy, and other sweets.
Eating these foods will give sugar an opportunity to eat away at their protective tooth enamel. Cavities can form as well.
Make sure your child recognizes the consequences of eating too much sugar.
If they do have a sugary snack, make sure they drink water or brush right away.
Try to choose foods that can benefit their dental health, too. You can encourage them to eat veggies, which are full of vitamins and minerals. Cheese and yogurt are high in calcium and protein, which is beneficial to dental health.
4. Select Kid-Friendly Products
The next time your child has a dentist appointment scheduled, consider discussing the oral hygiene products they’re using. Your dentist might recommend a fluoride toothpaste for kids. Fluoride could minimize their risk of future cavities.
Have your child pick out their brush, too. A fun design featuring their favorite characters could encourage them to brush.
Make sure you’re choosing products designed for children as well.
5. Use a Reward System
You can help your child focus on proper oral hygiene for kids by developing a reward system. For example, they can get a gold star each time they brush and floss. After a long streak, give them a prize to incentivize them to continue.
Try to avoid prizes that are sugary.
6. Gamify It
You can also help your child improve their dental health by turning brushing and flossing into a game. Look for fun oral health games online or find fun books for children.
7. Praise Successes
Let your child know how well they’re doing. Your positive feedback and encouragement could inspire them to improve their oral health.
In time, your child could begin to brush and floss without your prompting. They’ll want to make sure you’re proud!
Help them recognize the benefits of improving their oral health, too. For example, they can show off their stunning smile during their next dentist appointment. They can take beautiful pictures with you and avoid treatments, too.
8. Schedule Routine Appointments
Make sure you’re scheduling a dentist appointment for your child every six months. Neglecting appointments might compromise your child’s oral health. You might not realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.
Routine appointments will allow your dentist to catch signs of potential problems before they develop. Professional cleanings can keep your child’s teeth looking their all-time best, too.
Make sure to ask the dentist for more oral hygiene tips during these appointments as well.
Oral Hygiene for Kids: 8 Tips for Successful, Stunning Smiles
Keep your child’s stunning smile looking its best! With proper oral hygiene for kids, they can avoid cavities and other complications. Instead, they can feel proud about showing off their smiles.
Remember to schedule an appointment for your child every six months.
Ready for their next check-up? We can’t wait to see you both.
Book an appointment today at our dentist office to get started.