Our children’s teeth are an essential part of their overall health. This is true during their early development and remains true throughout their lives. This is why it’s essential to ensure your child develops good dental habits early in their life. When established early, these dental habits can support excellent oral health for a lifetime. Oral health concerns will develop without brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash regularly,. These can include tooth decay, gum disease, and more. We’ll help you learn how to discuss oral health with your children and what you can do to encourage the development of good habits.
Some Ways To Make Dental Health Fun For Kids
There’s an underappreciated secret code to getting kids enthusiastically involved with any process. This code is to give them agency within it. Agency means feeling they have control over the events they’re involved in. Too many parents try to force their children to adhere to dental health routines without giving them any control over the experience. We have tips to promote a feeling of agency and to help your child feel excited about their oral health routine. Consider the following tips:
- Buy Products With Them – Rather than selecting all their oral health care products for them, get them involved. Let them choose a flavor of toothpaste and pick out their toothbrush. You can lead them to the right types of products for them, but let them be the final arbiter of which they select.
- Scheduling Their Appointments – When you call to schedule an appointment with the dentist, have them with you. Let them know it’s time to take care of their teeth and ask them if they’d like to be involved with the call. Get a selection of dates and times that work for you, and then let them pick from those dates and times. You can let them pick out their clothes for the day and maybe schedule a special lunch before the visit.
- Make Hygiene Time Musical – Music has a special power to make any event more fun. Let your child pick a favorite song to brush their teeth too. Remind them that they need to brush their teeth for the entire song. Tell them they can switch up the song if they get tired of the one you’re using.
- Do It Together – Dental hygiene time can be a time to bring the family together, especially when children are younger. This makes it a special time for you to connect with your children while encouraging good habits.
These are just a few ways to encourage your children to develop proper oral hygiene habits.
Consult Your Dentist For More Tips
Your dentist is able to provide an abundance of tips and tricks to help your child embrace good oral hygiene. They can also help in cases where their dental concerns are beyond simple hygiene habits. Developing these habits ensures your child will have a beautiful smile for years.
