Sometimes raising kids can feel like an uphill battle, especially when it comes to their dental hygiene. The idea of getting them to brush, floss and rinse consistently might seem like an impossible challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve put together some helpful tips and tricks to get your little ones excited about brushing and flossing.
How to teach your child dental hygiene
Teaching your kids good dental hygiene is a challenge that many parents will have to face. As with most things, an effective dental routine is something you need to actively work on until it becomes a habit. Until then, we’ve put together some tips to encourage your kids to brush day and night.
- Start early. From the day their first baby tooth pokes through, you should be brushing your kid’s teeth. By the time they’re seven or eight, they should be ready to brush and floss their teeth on their own.
- Teach by example. You have to practise what you preach, which means maintaining good and consistent dental hygiene yourself. Your little ones are a lot less likely to brush their teeth if they don’t see you doing so each day.
- Be consistent. Consistency is the key to forming good habits. After a long day, the last thing you want to do is battle it out with the kids to convince them to brush their teeth, but without consistency you won’t form good routines and habits.
- Reward positive behaviour. Whatever your preferred reward is, let your kids know when they’re doing a good job! They’ll be encouraged to maintain healthy habits if they know they might get an extra treat for doing so.
How can you make tooth brushing fun?
Dental hygiene doesn’t have to feel like a chore! Make teeth time fun for the kids with these tips.
- Choose a fun timer. There are plenty of fun timers and hourglasses available to keep your kids entertained while they’re brushing their teeth. Keep them brushing until the timer runs out for healthy little chompers!
- Have a dance party. Turn on your kids’ favourite songs and have a dance party while they brush their teeth. Make sure they’re brushing effectively and not missing any spots though!
- Use a fun app. You can even get videos or apps designed to keep kids entertained for two minutes while they brush their teeth. The SmileSeeker app has a two minute timer built in that makes it super simple to brush for the right length of time.
When should you start bringing your child to the orthodontist?
Creating healthy brushing habits from a young age is a great way to set your children up for a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining regular dental check ups is also important for oral health. Your child will likely be ready for their first orthodontist appointment in their early teens if they need dental alignment like braces or something similar. If your kids are ready to visit an orthodontist, contact the team at Ethos Orthodontics to book your appointment today!
