As a parent, the most important thing when it comes to your kid’s dental hygiene is to find a way to make it fun for them to want to brush and floss every day!
This may seem like a difficult feat but we’ve put together a full-proof guide on how to establish healthy dental habits early on and how to get your kiddos to love taking care of their teeth! We’re going back to the basics to help you make dental hygiene a natural and consistent part of your children’s daily routine.
Create a routine:
Getting your kids to brush twice a day and floss once a day can be easily done by making it a fun game! Here are some things you can do to make brushing and flossing an exciting activity instead of a chore:
- Let your kids pick their toothbrush and toothpaste from the store. They can pick their favorite colored toothbrush and toothpaste that has a zany flavor that they are excited to try out. Your kids will look forward to using the items that they were able to handpick!
- Make a game out of brushing and flossing. Have your kids sing or play their favorite song while they take care of their teeth or invent a fun game that they will look forward to playing every day.
- Reward your child after they finish their dental routine! Give them a gold star or an hour of playtime to reinforce that they’ve done a good thing. Avoid sweet treats as rewards but everything is okay in moderation.
Establish a healthy diet for your kids:
Brushing and flossing every day is only half of the work. Making sure your kids have healthy diets is so important to keeping their teeth healthy and avoiding the development of cavities. Limit soda, fruit juices, and sweetened drinks as a way to cut their sugar consumption down. Sweet treats and desserts are things that all kids love so just make sure they are enjoying them in moderation.
Take them in for regular check-ups and cleanings:
Regular teeth cleanings are extremely important to your child’s dental health. In the first ten years of a child’s life, they are at high-risk for cavities, so taking your kids into the dentist to remove plaque will prevent this from happening.
Teach your child that dental hygiene can be fun! When you establish healthy habits from an early age, your kiddos are more likely to keep up with cleaning their teeth well into their adult years. Schedule your appointment at Top Kids Dentists today!