How To Encourage Good Dental Habits In Your Kids
Taking care of your child's teeth requires more than simply brushing their teeth when they're little and can't do it themselves. Building good dental habits now will serve your child for the rest of their lives, but many parents don't know how to go about this. If you want to boost your child's dental hygiene now and encourage them to keep at it when they get older, give these three tips a try.
Explanation
Children are endlessly curious, so don't try to tell your child to brush their teeth for no reason. Take some time to sit down with your child and explain why it's so important to maintain their dental hygiene. Talk to them about cavities and gum disease. If you've experienced either of these yourself, tell them what it was like for you. You don't want to scare them, but gently encourage them to keep doing what they need to in order to prevent it from happening to them. If your child has questions, answer them. If you don't know the answers, talk to your dentist and then update your child.
Tooth Tabs
One good way to encourage your child to not just brush but to brush well is to get dental disclosing tablets. You may have used these yourself at one time or another; they're typically pink, chewable tablets that stick to and highlight parts of the tooth that have plaque or tartar build-up.
If you've never used these tablets, they're easy to use. You simply have your child brush their teeth first, and then offer them a tablet to chew. Then, simply have them smile into a mirror. Any areas of the teeth that aren't in good shape will be vividly pink, or whatever the color of your tablets are. These tablets can be brushed away once they've been chewed.
If your child has a lot of pink show up, use it as an encouragement for them to do better. You can even use a tablet yourself to show the difference between your teeth and your child's.
Reward
Lastly, don't be afraid to reward your child for their good dental habits. While giving them candy or sweets isn't ideal since it'll hurt their teeth, there are plenty of other ways you can encourage them.
Consider making a check-list that has your child's morning and evening tooth brushings on it. If they make both brushings, let them do something fun as a reward. For example, you could go on an outing on the weekend together, or you could just give your child ten more minutes in their favorite game past their bedtime. These rewards will make your kid feel special and encourage them to keep up the good work.
Good dental habits don't have to be hard to form. With these tips and regular visits to your dentist, your child's teeth will stay in good shape, and their new habits will serve them well for the rest of their lives. For more information, check out a website like http://www.vanyodentistry.com.
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