As parents, we want our kids to have healthy habits that will last a lifetime. It can be difficult to help kids transition from having their teeth and gums cleaned by you to cleaning themselves, and even more difficult to help young children and teens with consistency and technique. In this article, we will provide some guidance on how to help your kids take care of their teeth and gums throughout the year. Of course one of the best things you can do is make sure they see a family dentist at least twice a year. A family dental office that specializes in working with kids knows how to help children improve their dental habits. For example, they can demonstrate brushing and flossing techniques and provide encouragement and tips as your kids and teens need them.
Consistency is Key In Brushing & Flossing
One of the most important things about dental habits is that they become habits. Brushing and flossing need to happen every day. There are many ways to help your kids and teens with this beyond just constantly reminding them to do it. Many kids enjoy picking their won’t toothpaste and toothbrushes to feel a sense of ownership and control over their dental health. And of course, a calendar with stickers is a great way for young kids to track their brushing and flossing each day. For older teens who have smartphones, there are many great apps that help track daily habits. Another thing to do is to make sure that your kids have access to travel toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss for vacations or even overnight school trips or visits to their friends’ homes. Keeping up with a habit requires daily consistency. Another thing to consider is your own consistency. Kids can tell when we aren’t practicing what we preach. Making sure to brush, floss, and schedule dental appointments can help instill the importance of the habit to your kids.
Teach Them The Right Techniques
Another thing to consider is how they brush and floss. Most dentists recommend that you brush for at least two minutes at a time. Whether you use a phone timer or music, it is important to think of ways to track that. It can be tempting to do a quick 15 second brush especially if your kids are excited to get back to something else they were already doing. Another important thing to do is change out toothbrushes routinely. Once every 3-4 months is recommended for toothbrushes. There are many ways to track this but one of the easiest methods is to just have a new toothbrush every time the seasons change.
Make Family Dental Visits
One of the other important things you should consider doing is keeping up with routine dental visits for your kids. Quick dental visits can track dental health, address issues, and help your kids improve their dental habits with encouragement and demonstration from their dentists. If you live in the Chicago area and need to make a dental appointment for one of your kids, please give one of our offices a call.