From tooth-achingly sweet lollies to starchy snacks such as potato chips, most kids enjoy their fill of unhealthy treats but need a little push when it comes to good dental hygiene. Unfortunately, bad oral health can lead to tooth decay, painful cavities, and gum disease. Ward off unwanted trips to the dentist by encouraging your children to practice good oral hygiene. Here are a few of the best tips for your kids to practice good oral hygiene.
1. Stick to a Routine
Excellent oral health requires good techniques and an efficient routine. Everyone, including kid’s with most of their gnashers, should brush their teeth once in the morning and once before bed for approximately 2 minutes. After their final brush of the day, try not to let your child consume food or drinks. In addition to brushing, your child should also clean between teeth with floss once a day. Try to introduce a daily routine and stick with it.
2. Set a Good Example
When it comes to dental health, you need to lead by example. Don’t expect your kids to pick up and maintain the habit of brushing and flossing by themselves. Chances are, they will either forget what they need to do or simply get distracted if you send them to the bathroom alone. Instead, join them and care for your teeth together. Not only will you be able to make sure they are doing the job right, you can also turn it into a relaxing, bedtime tradition.
3. Make Brushing Fun
Despite introducing an efficient routine and setting a good example, brushing your teeth can feel like a chore for adults and children alike. Try to make dental hygiene as fun as possible by allowing your child to pick their own toothbrush and child-friendly toothpaste and introducing a fun song to sing for the 2 minutes they need to brush their teeth. Additionally, you can provide positive reinforcements to help them stay motivated.
4. Visit a Children’s Dentist
A visit to the dentist can be incredibly daunting, especially for young children who are unfamiliar with dental practices. Instead of throwing them into the deep end, do some research and find a specialist children’s dentist to care for their teeth. If you are looking for a dentist, Brighton dentist Lifestyle Smiles can help you out. This Brighton-based dental practice employs a team of professionals who can offer dental treatments specifically geared towards kids. Their services include general, cosmetic, and restorative treatments.
5. Introduce Low-Sugar Snacks
If your child is like any other kid out there, they probably enjoy their fair share of sweet biscuits, lollies, and sugary soft drinks. Instead of giving them their usual snacks, why not opt for a low-sugar alternative instead? Swap to low-sugar snacks and no-sugar soft drinks instead.
6. Consider Less Starchy Foods
Starchy foods, like potato chips, crackers, and bread are associated with tooth decay. Studies show that starchy food products linger in the oral cavity, break down, then turn into simple sugars. Once the acid-producing bacteria get into contact with these sugars, tooth decay occurs.