5 Dental Care Tips to Teach Your Children
Are your kids developing good dental care habits?
While adults can take care of their oral health on their own, children need extra care. Yet good dental care habits are essential for their growth. They need to learn how to brush their teeth and go to the dentist.
While you want to step in and help your kids, you may feel lost about how to guide them. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
Keep reading to learn the top tips for teaching your children how to take care of their teeth.
1. Dental Care: When To Brush Teeth
Most parents teach their children to brush their teeth at a young age, but many don’t realize the importance of teaching them when to brush their teeth. It’s important to teach your children to brush their teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at night, this will help to prevent cavities and gum disease. A pediatric dentist will recommend brushing after every meal, but at least twice a day is a start to having good oral health.
2. Proper Brushing
The first step is to find a soft-bristled toothbrush that is the right size for your child’s mouth. Next, share with them the importance of using toothpaste that contains fluoride, this will help protect their teeth from cavities.
Show them how to wet their toothbrush, put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the bristles, and brush in a circular motion. Be sure to have them brush the front, top, and back of their teeth. They should also use a light back-and-forth motion when brushing their gum line.
Finally, have them rinse their mouth and brush with water. Encourage them to spit the water out after each brush stroke.
3. How To Floss
To teach your children how to floss, you should start by flossing your own teeth in front of them. This will give them a good example to follow. You can then explain to them how important it is to floss every day to keep their teeth healthy and free of cavities.
Once they understand this, give them a demonstration of how to floss properly. Finally, let them practice on their own teeth.
4. Foods To Eat To Avoid Cavities
You can help your child avoid cavities by teaching them to eat foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar. Sugar is one of the main culprits when it comes to cavities, so it’s important to limit sugar intake. Encourage your child to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber and help to scrub away plaque.
5. Brush Their Tongue
It’s important to teach your children the importance of brushing their tongues as part of their dental health. The tongue is home to millions of bacteria, and brushing helps to remove plaque and food debris that can cause bad breath.
It’s also important to brush the tongue to help keep the teeth and gums healthy. And should be done every day, using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.
Good Oral Health For Your Children
Praise your children when they take care of their teeth to encourage them to keep up the good work! Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are all important parts of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Let your kids know that you are proud of them when they remember to do their dental care routine.
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