Learning how to properly clean and care for your teeth is one of the most basic things you can do to maintain good dental and oral hygiene. It’s also one of the first dental hygiene practices that your parents most likely taught you when you were a child. You might not necessarily remember exactly how your parents showed you to brush your teeth, but chances are that you probably do remember them telling you to “brush your teeth and go to bed” at night. Now that you’re a parent yourself, it’s your turn to start imparting important children’s dental care knowledge to your kids.
If you’re new at parenting here are a few great tips to help you teach your kids proper brushing techniques and establish a consistent morning and night-time dental care routine.
Start Brushing at an Early Age
Ideally, you should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts when they’re around six months old. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a damp soft cloth to carefully clean the surface of their teeth usually twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening or as often as recommended by your family dentist.
By the age of six your child should have developed enough manual dexterity to start brushing their teeth on their own. Teach them the proper teeth brushing method which is to start at the gum line and move downward for the upper teeth and upward for the bottom teeth. This helps prevent gum recession later on in life and ensures that all food particles remaining in their gum line are removed.
Brush Alongside Your Child and Make It Into a Fun Game
From a young age children need structure and consistency in their daily routines to develop healthy habits such as good dental care and hygiene. To make brushing their teeth more enjoyable and less of a chore you should do it alongside your child and make it into a fun game.
Play some fun music and do a silly dance together while you both brush your teeth or give them a small reward like a sticker or a high five as positive reinforcement for a job well done. Think of it as a good bonding experience and a chance for you to spend a little extra quality time with your child every day. It’s also a golden opportunity to teach your kids proper brushing techniques and to check up on their dental and oral health.
If you notice any abnormal symptoms such as swollen gums or bleeding while they brush bring this to the attention of your dentist so that they can offer appropriate treatment options before the problem gets worse. This is also a great teachable moment to show your children that they don’t have to be afraid of going to the dentist from a very young age.
Let Them Choose Their Own Toothbrush
A great way to get your child more invested in their own dental health is to give them some autonomy. They may not have any control over their bedtime, but at least they can choose their own toothpaste and toothbrush. Unless your dentist recommends specific toothpaste for certain dental health issues such as sensitivity most children prefer flavoured or sparkle toothpaste that bursts in their mouths while they brush.
Children’s toothbrushes can also be quite whimsical and fun because they usually feature beloved characters from their favourite books, TV shows and movies. Allowing your child to choose a themed toothbrush with their favourite character or design will make the otherwise mundane routine of brushing their teeth that much more fun.
Give Them an Incentive to Brush Their Teeth
As an adult brushing your teeth is a pretty dull task that you’ve become accustomed to doing every single day. If that’s how adults feel about it, imagine what it’s like for children. They only know that brushing their teeth is important because their parents tell them they have to do it.
Giving children an incentive to brush their teeth like a small reward system can make it more appealing when they’re younger. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate reward. It can be something like a small toy, a sticker or even just letting them know that you’re proud of them for brushing their teeth. These incentives reinforce the positive feeling of taking good care of their teeth and will initiate strong lifelong good oral hygiene practices.
Explain the Importance of Maintaining Good Dental Health
When your children are finally old enough to brush their teeth on their own and have the cognitive capacity to understand why dental and oral hygiene are vital to their health, you can explain it to them. Tell them what can happen if they don’t take good care of their teeth. Explain to them how cavities, tooth decay, bad breath, plaque, tartar and harmful bacteria can deteriorate their teeth. But you should also explain to them that they can prevent these things from happening as long as they practice good oral hygiene consistently.
Better yet you can have a trained family dentist explain it to them in a way that will help them understand without making them feel uncomfortable.
Set a Good Example
Your children look up to you. Even when you don’t think they’re paying attention to what you’re doing, they are. And that means that they can pick up your bad habits just as much as your good traits. Set a good example for your children not just by talking the talk but also by walking the walk. In fact, setting up a consistent dental hygiene routine can be a good thing for you as an adult just as much as it is for your children. If you don’t already have a consistent at-home dental hygiene routine in place it’s not too late to start. Do it for yourself and your children.
Schedule an Appointment with a Children’s Dentist in Etobicoke
For over 30 years, Princeview Dental Group has established a reputation for being a trusted family dental clinic in Etobicoke. Our experienced staff can help parents navigate the sometimes challenging world of children’s dentistry. We can offer some great tips and advice to get your kids more excited about practicing good dental care at home. Contact us today to learn more or to book an appointment for your child.
