4 Ways to Teach Your Kids Proper Dental Care

Raising a child is no small feat, especially when you consider the fact that there are so many things to worry about. There are new hurdles that come with every age. From changing diapers to handling tantrums, parenthood comes with a seemingly endless list of challenges that just never seem to really go away.

While raising a kid can be downright exhausting, there’s one particular thing that you cannot neglect: teaching them how to maintain good oral health. Thankfully, reinforcing good dental habits isn’t actually too difficult as long as you know what to do.

Why should you teach your kids the importance of good oral health?

Before we jump into the topic of how you can set your kids up with a proper oral healthcare routine, let’s go over the importance of setting it up in the first place.

As much as “modern parenting” guides will tell you otherwise, the truth is that there’s no such thing as starting your kids on clean teeth too early. Good dental habits are best enforced and maintained at a young age, especially because bad dental habits can be difficult to break. Aside from being a good way to teach your child about discipline, one major part of reinforcing good dental care at an early age is that oral health has a significant impact on overall health. By getting your little one started on developing good habits at an early age, you’ll be preparing them for adulthood.

4 Ways to Teach Your Kids Proper Dental Care

In order to make the implementation process for dental care as simple and easy as possible, here are a few several tips and tricks that you can use:

1. Educate your kids on why they should take care of their oral health

This step might require a bit of patience and creativity, but ensuring that your children know why they need to take care of their teeth is essential. If your kid enjoys science, prepare them for a lifetime of good oral health by approaching it from a scientific standpoint. Teach them all they need to know about gum disease and cavities while showing them how they can prevent these conditions.

If your child needs a bit more imaginative stimulation, consider a different approach. Turn teeth brushing into a game where your little one fights “yellow furry monsters” (plaque) and “evil black dots” (cavities) to save the city of “Teethsville”. If you’re not the creative type and can’t tell a creative story to save your life, you can always turn to the failsafe of saying your little one’s favourite cartoon character brushes their teeth, which is why they should too!

2. Bring them in on the fun of buying their dental supplies

Who says toothbrushes, toothpaste, tongue scrapers, and floss can’t be fun? Nowadays, there are so many colours and characters for your kids to choose from. Get them on board the dental care express by having them go dental supply shopping. By doing so, you will be getting your little excited about dental care.

3. Set up a routine that they can follow

As much as it would be nice, your kids won’t be able to learn how to brush their teeth on their own or track their oral healthcare progress by themselves. In order to make sure that good habits of brushing, flossing, gargling, and scraping stay in place, create a sticker chart or tracker to help your kids keep track. Setting up a routine will also help them maintain good habits as the years go by.

4. Bring your kids to the dentist as often as needed

Quite a number of adults are afraid of going to the dentist. They avoid paying a visit at any cost, choosing instead to risk their oral health over an irrational fear. Whether or not you’re terrified of the dentist, you need to teach your little one that sitting in the dental chair is a lot more fun than scary. Schedule regular check-ups as a family at your local dentist’s office when your kids are young so that they become acclimated with the environment.

Teaching your children how to take care of their teeth is an important part of raising them well. With our tips, you’ll find it easier to instill good habits and make dental hygiene enjoyable rather than a chore.

If you’re looking for a local dentist to help you with proper dental care, contact us today for a free consultation!