How to Get Children Caring about Dental Hygiene?
Did you know that, in some countries, tooth decay in children is one of the most chronic dental conditions around? If you are a parent or plan on having offspring one day, you will want to do everything in your power to prevent this from happening by promoting oral hygiene early on in childhood.
But how do you get your kids excited about looking after their teeth? Brushing is hardly a favourite activity for anyone, let alone a child under two who tends to get easily distracted.
The simple fact is that children learn by example. Make the task of cleaning one’s teeth fun while explaining why it is an important ritual. The advice you will receive from a dental hygienist in Richmond on how to keep teeth clean and healthy is bound to hold more weight if you are having a hard time encouraging your little one to take care of their pearly whites.
Tips on How to Make Dental Hygiene Fun
● Brush your teeth when your kids brush theirs, make it an activity that the whole family does together. Turn it into a competition in that the person with the cleanest teeth after two minutes of non-stop brushing gets awarded a prize (try not to make that reward a sweet).
● Buy toothbrushes with your child’s favourite superhero or movie character and use a flavoured toothpaste for brushing, like watermelon and strawberry.
● Role play – play a game where you and your child take turns being the dentist and the patient. Not only is it fun, but it is an educational game that emphasises the importance of toothbrushing, and the consequences of not looking after your teeth adequately.
Teaching Your Children to Brush their Teeth Correctly
Children do not know how to brush their teeth properly until the age of six, eight for flossing.
It is up to you, as the parent, to show them the correct technique until you are sure that they have mastered it.
Before the age of six, allow your child to clean their pearly whites themselves, but be sure to brush afterwards to remove plaque that they might have missed.
Follow these steps:
● Position the brush at a 45-degree angle on the gum line.
● Brush using short strokes, cleaning the front, back, and tops of the teeth. Be doubly sure to clean the backs of the front teeth where plaque builds up the most, and the molars where cavities are the most likely to develop.
● Do not aggravate their gums by brushing too hard, use gentle, massage motions instead.
Keep Track of Your Child’s Diet
Fact – children love candy. You probably already know that a diet comprising of a lot of sugar is not only bad for one’s overall health but is also terrible for oral health too.
Try to curb your child’s intake of sugar. Save sweets for special occasions, and when you do allow them to have a treat, encourage them to eat a piece of cheese at the same time. Most dairy products contain minerals that control the production of acid in your mouth that are responsible for tooth decay.
We know that not many children like the taste of water, it is bland and tasteless, but it is incredibly good for you and your teeth. Drinking enough water can stave off tooth decay.
If you think your child’s teeth are in trouble or overdue for another check-up, make an appointment with your local Dentist and Dental Hygienist in Richmond.
Do you use any clever tricks that weren’t mentioned here to get your children to look after their teeth? If so, please share in the comments below.
