February is Children’s Dental Health Month! In recognition, we thought we’d delve into how to help them achieve a healthy smile. Getting them to brush, let alone floss, can be difficult. When you’re very young, you truly don’t understand the impact of having good dental practices. We have some helpful tips to help kids with oral health!
Education is Key
It’s hard to grasp a lot of preventative health necessities when you are 5 or even 8 and all you can think about are the fun things in life. Taking care of their bodies won’t register as important just yet. They will learn about brushing their teeth at school, but probably not too extensively. Take a bit of time to educate them on why we take care of our teeth and gums.
Kids are extremely visual. We don’t want to scare them, but show them an example of what happens when you don’t brush your teeth. There are plenty of cavity and bad teeth pictures out there to choose from. They’ll probably understand and get a kick out of the explanation of bad breath as well. There are also a lot of kid friendly videos on YouTube they can watch and learn from.
Practice with Them
Sometimes it’s just easier learning and practicing when you have a physical example. When they go to brush their teeth, join them! Seeing you do it ensures how important it is to you. Our children strive to impress us and be like us. Putting forth a good example will help them visually and emotionally take on the practice much easier.
Use Helpful, but also Fun Tools
Kids, naturally, are drawn to fun activities. Make brushing your teeth one of them! Get your kid a toothbrush that sings and/or that’s their favorite color. Use a timer or turn on a song to time the brushing to give them an idea of how long it will take. Brushing in silence is for adults!
Teach them to floss with individual flossing pics that are easy to use. Use mouthwash that has no alcohol so that it’s not as harsh. All of these elements will help make the action into a practice!
Create a Routine
When it’s _o’clock, it’s brushing time! Make sure they have a schedule they can count on to know exactly when it’s time to brush. Children like to be on a schedule, even though it seems like they function on chaos.
While most families don’t practice brushing after every single meal, mention it and try it out. The change-up could have the whole family taking better care of their teeth, which is a win in our eyes!
Be Encouraging
While we don’t want to give them a reward after every single time they brush their teeth, it should go noticed, especially when they are just starting out. Give them an extra big “good job” or reward them at the end of the week, if they’ve been consistent.
Promote Healthy Eating
Something not talked about enough is healthy eating for good oral health. Instead of just packing lunch or making dinner, talk to your kids about why we eat what we do! Here’s some great info to share with your little ones:
- Water is safe for teeth, while sugary drinks can give you cavities.
- Apples and other fruits can help naturally clean teeth and help with saliva production.
- Fresh Veggies like carrots, cauliflower, and cucumbers can naturally scrape away plaque build-up.
- Whole grain bread and meats, like chicken and turkey help build enamel!
Bottom Line to Help Kids with Oral Health
Not every practice has to be a struggle. There are creative ways to get your kids to make healthy decisions and practices to grow on. No matter what works for your family, make it a priority! Children’s teeth are particularly vulnerable to damage.
Need a pediatric dentist? At Miami Valley Smiles, we know the dentist is the last place you want to spend time, especially if you’re a kid! A trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety, fear, and tears for many kiddos (even for many adults!), but we want you to know even our youngest patients enjoy their time with us. Dr. Lance and our team are friendly and gentle and create a warm and comfortable environment for your whole family. Book an appointment today!
