Healthy Oral Habits to Teach Your Child Early - What to Know

Raising a child is not an easy task—with all the things that parents need to do to ensure that they grow up to be responsible, kind adults and succeed in life. Habits need to be formed as early as possible—and that includes good oral hygiene.

Teaching them good oral habits at an early age is one of the ultimate lessons you can teach them for their lifelong general health. The sooner you teach them how to brush or floss their teeth, the less likely that they will develop oral health problems, such as cavities or gum disease. Additionally, your child’s health as they age is closely associated with their oral health. It is never too early to start teaching your kids good oral hygiene.

Here are some dental habits you can teach your kids:

Teach by Example

As an adult, one of the best ways to teach your child good oral hygiene is by example. Just like all the things in life, children learn better by following what adults are doing. Practicing good dental hygiene sets them a message of the importance of such a habit.

As simple as it sounds, the impact is huge. Your children will grow up knowing and understanding the value of caring for their gums and teeth, which will be possible if you also put both your and your child’s oral hygiene as a priority.

Promote Healthy Eating Habits

Kids love to eat junk foods but to help them maintain good oral health, teach them to stay away from these unhealthy foods. Candy, ice cream, chocolates, and other sweet snacks contain high amounts of sugar that may contribute to major oral issues for both adults and children.

One of the leading causes of tooth decay is sugar, and if tooth decay goes untreated, it could lead to cavities and other gum problems. Promote healthy eating habits at home, provide foods that have less sugar, and encourage your kids to eat fruits and vegetables. Not only will you be promoting good eating lifestyle and oral hygiene, but you can also ensure that they grow up to be strong and healthy adults. It will also reduce the risks of long-term health problems.

Have Regular Dental Check-ups

Instilling in your child’s mind that dental visits are important as early as possible can greatly affect how they would value their oral health when they grow up. From the time your child turns two years old, you can already bring him/her to a children’s dentist in Ypsilanti. During this age, they would start to develop their neonatal teeth.

Also, remember that the pediatric dentist you choose to look after your child’s oral health can make a huge difference. A good pediatric dentist must be able to provide your child with a positive overall dental experience. If your child feels stressed, anxious, or scared every time you mention “dentist,” he/she will probably dread or hate the idea of going to the dentist for many years to come.

The Bottom Line

There are still many ways on how you can teach your child good oral hygiene. A trip to the pediatric dentist in Ypsilanti that is fun will make the whole experience worthwhile for your child.

Visit us at Dental House MI in Ann Arbor and let your child experience exceptional support and care from our dentists whose priority is your child’s oral health.