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 of our top tips for teaching your young ones 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. Not only that, but showing how to clean the teeth around every tooth can be beneficial for having 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 allow your child to listen to their favourite song for 3 minutes while they brush their teeth. This can again make it feel like less of a chore, but it can also help them understand how long they need to brush their teeth for.
Lead by example
Young children often copy what they see others do, especially if they’re older. If they see their parent(s) brushing their teeth consistently and looking after their oral hygiene, they may feel more inclined to do so as well.
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 some of the tips you can integrate when starting the brushing process with your child, and if you have any questions or are looking 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?