Keeping your teeth and gums healthy and strong is essential to overall good health. In fact, tooth brushing is a foundational habit that if you start early in life, will set up other good habits as well, throughout your life. Because of this, it's imperative that you create this solid foundation for healthy hygiene habits in your own children as soon as possible. While kids like to be defiant, there are thankfully some ideas to help you along in your development of their healthy dental habits.
Start Early
As soon as your baby's first teeth start to poke through, it's a good idea to get them started getting used to the sensation of brushing. You can use your finger to massage the tooth and the gums around it, or pick up a toothbrush for children and very gently clean it for them. While a young child won't be able to brush their own teeth for a while, getting them use to the habit and associated sensations will make transferring the responsibility to them much easier later on.
Demonstrate
As your children grow, you may find that they actually want to try brushing on their own. This is a perfect time to show them how best to do it, ensuring their teeth get cleaned correctly. By reinforcing proper brushing, it's much more likely to do a good job on their own. When it's bed time, brush your teeth with them. Show them how to add toothpaste, brush each tooth - front and back, tops and bottoms - and make sure you set a good example. Children who see positive behaviour exhibited by their parents are significantly more likely to model that behaviour.
Create a Solid Routine
Upon waking, impress upon your kids that brushing is just as critical as it is before bed. Often, explaining that germs grow overnight that damage your teeth can be enough incentive to get them eager to brush in the morning. Setting up an evening routine can actually be easier. In fact, creating a nightly routine in general is the best way to make sure your kids simply sleep better. A bath, a solid brushing ritual, and then a bedtime story can create much needed structure for little ones.
Make Brushing Fun
Getting your kids a fun toothbrush of beloved characters like heroes or princesses is a good way to make them exited about brushing time. Most kids' toothpastes are targeted to kids with "fun" flavours and pretty colours, so that helps, too. Mostly, though, it goes back to ensuring you're modelling good behaviour, so don't act as if brushing your teeth is a chore, and they likely won't see it as one, either.
Visit the Dentist
Taking your child to the dentist from an early age will help them understand that it's not a scary place. The dentist can help your child understand why brushing is such an important part of good oral hygiene. Don't wait on taking your child to the dentist, contact us today to book an appointment and set up your child's visit to the dentist.