A child’s smile is one of the most precious things, and as parents, it’s essential to teach your kids the importance of looking after their smile and teeth. However, teaching young children this may not always be the easiest thing. But don’t worry; that’s why we’re here to help. We’ve gathered some top tips for teaching your kids the importance of dental hygiene!
Start Early
By explaining the importance of dental hygiene at a young age, this can help children understand the significance of keeping clean teeth and healthy gums as they grow up. Alongside this, showing how to clean the teeth around every tooth can be beneficial to create an effective brushing process. However, this doesn’t have to be boring; using an interactive or physical game as well as a teeth-cleaning song online can help your child have a better understanding of brushing their teeth.
It’s also essential to introduce and explain the process of going to the dentist. This can be scary for some young ones; however, by being there for them and showing the dentist in a positive light, you can allow your child to slowly settle into the process of going to the dentist.
Make The Experience Fun
Whether it’s letting them choose their own toothbrush, using child-friendly floss, or using colourful or different-tasting toothpaste, allowing your child to have a say in these areas can make them feel excited rather than see it as a chore. Not only this, but you could also play your child’s favourite song for 3 minutes while they brush their teeth. Again, this makes brushing feel less like a chore and helps them understand how long to brush their teeth.
Lead By Example
Young children often copy what they see others do, especially if they’re older. If they see their parent(s) brushing consistently and looking after their oral hygiene, they may feel more inclined to follow.
Reward For Consistency
A final way to encourage your kids to look after their dental hygiene is by rewarding them, for example, if they brush their teeth consistently for a week. By positively reinforcing the activity of brushing their teeth, it helps them to create this habit in a positive way.
Hopefully you can integrate some of these tips when starting the brushing process with your child. If you have any questions or searching for a dentist for your little one, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Have you enjoyed the blog and want to find similar content? Check out our previous blog on what are the causes of receding gums?
