The most prevalent chronic disease in today’s American children is tooth decay. This is a terrifying report since tooth decay is mostly avoidable.
You may reason that the condition of kids’ teeth isn’t a big deal. In any case, they lose their baby teeth and get adult teeth. It’s not until they get permanent teeth that the major task begins.
But that is not the case. Children need to look after their teeth, even when they don’t like it. This is because the approach to oral hygiene for kids is crucial for their baby teeth and adult teeth.
Even as the condition of children’s teeth is essential, it’s not easy to make them take care of their teeth. On that note, here are tips on how to get your kids to look after their teeth.
1. Educate Them About the Importance of Brushing
Have you ever told your children why they are supposed to brush their teeth twice a day?
They’ll most likely want to know. If you tell children why they should brush their teeth, they’re high chances they will understand. Unless they’re exhausted, understanding may result in commitment. Nothing leads to commitment after that.
Toddlers enjoy getting their hands dirty. So why not use arts and crafts to educate your child on the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene?
Draw or print a huge, smiling face with exposed white clean teeth on the poster board. You can color the teeth yellow using a marker and give the children to paint white teeth. Discuss the advantages of brushing teeth to keep them white and healthy.
You can hang the finished product in your bathroom as a lesson of what healthy teeth may appear. You may also include reasons why dental hygiene is vital as a reminder for everybody in your home on the poster.
2. Make Brushing Fun
Many kids fear the moment when they are told to ‘stop messing about’ and prepare to go and sleep. It’s at this point that you should aim to make their tooth-brushing sessions a fun time for them.
Have kids’ toothbrushes that light up. Make brushing their teeth fun.
A song can function as a timer! Cheerful melodies that run about two minutes are a terrific method to make sure your kids brush for the recommended amount of time. You can play the song over a speaker or smartphone or sing to them.
You might ask your child what music they want to listen to while brushing their teeth. This helps them feel included and enjoy the experience.
3. Sometimes Give Them Rewards
Rewarding good behavior is a fantastic motivator. It makes developing a dental hygiene routine much easier.
If there’s anything pleasurable at the end, you’re also more probably to get the job done without crying.
Okay, we’re not advocating bribery. But now and then, when your child does a great job brushing, swishing, and flossing, give them a small reward. It could be as simple as watching a brief cartoon before bed.
You can also allow them to wear their best pajamas or reading them a favorite story. A chart system is a good way to keep track of this. If you put a star on the chart for every tooth they brush effectively, a particular number of stars gets a prize.
4. Select a Good Pediatric Dentist
Take your child to a pediatric dentist who is experienced in dealing with frightened children. Instead of using potentially frightening words like “drilling,” “decay,” or “pain,” a skilled dentist will employ positive adjectives like “strong,” “clean,” and “healthy.”
Your children will be more willing to visit the dentist as a result of this. They will become used to seeing a dentist if you visit them regularly.
5. Give Them Tasty Toothpaste
Because not every kid likes the strong minty flavor of normal toothpaste, why not opt for flavors that are a little different?
Many kid’s toothpastes are now available in strawberry, orange flavors, or watermelon. Just ensure your kid doesn’t like the taste too much and swallows a large amount when you’re not watching.
6. Surprise Them With Dentist Checkup
Routine dental check-ups are also an important aspect of maintaining good oral hygiene for kids. Every six months, take your children to a pediatric dentist to keep their smiles bright and healthy.
To create a favorable relationship with the dentist’s office, you can award going to the dentist with an enjoyable activity. Taking kids to the first family dentist visit within six months of the first tooth appearance is recommended.
After the check-up, reward your children with some fun family time. Take a walk in the park or organize a picnic with healthy meals to keep your teeth in good shape.
7. Read Stories and Watch Videos
Good examples of brushing and oral hygiene in the wild are wonderful motivators for kids.
Search for videos of your child’s favorite cartoons brushing their teeth on YouTube. You can search videos featuring Elmo, Crawford, and Calliou the Cat brushing their teeth.
The cartoons will encourage your child to practice good hygiene. They will also help them connect with their favorite characters.
Else, look for a story about brushing your teeth. In non-tooth-related fiction, make a huge issue about actors brushing their teeth.
Using your child’s favorite cartoon characters to promote dental hygiene is a terrific approach. They remind them that everybody, including Peppa Pig, has to clean their teeth.
8. Eat No-Sugar Snacks for Good Oral Hygiene for Kids
Teatime goodies like chocolate bars, biscuits, and candies are high in sugar. This is bad for your teeth.
Even seemingly harmless, natural foods like raisins, oranges, and dates are high in decay-causing acid. This can create different problems for your child’s teeth.
Rather, lure them with small cheeses, carrot sticks soaked in creamy humous, and other fresh vegetables sliced into shapes.
9. Allow Them to Choose Toothpastes
Kids enjoy the sense of being in charge and being able to pick what they want to do. So please provide them with various toothpaste and brushes at every session to select their own product.
You Now Know How Your Kids Should Look After Their Teeth
When your children first get their teeth, they should practice good oral hygiene. It’s not easy to persuade your 3-year-old to turn off the television and brush.
Oral hygiene for kids keeps them in school by reducing dental-related ailments. It also prepares them for adulthood teeth.
Use these strategies to convince your kids to brush their teeth and establish healthy habits that will last for a lifetime!
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