In the Know for You to Know

As parents we are our child’s 1st health care role model.

Like everything our children’s good dental health starts with good habits at home. As parents we play an important role in developing and encouraging healthy life style behaviors for our child, which are important for their lifelong well-being.

So how do you guide your child toward positive oral healthcare? I’m sharing with you some dental home care tips to help you be successful.

Dental Healthcare Tips For Your Child’s School Age Years

• Show your child how to brush their teeth by letting them watch you. Use a small soft bristle toothbrush with a flexible head with a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Check out your child’s new teeth. New adult teeth (aka forever teeth) usually start coming in around the time your child is 6 years old and continues on and off until their middle teenage years.
• When packing lunch and snacks for school and family outings make healthy eating fun and include your child in deciding what to prepare.
• Limit sugar. Always easier said than done. It’s not only about candy. When you’re grocery shopping take a peak at the label on crackers, cookies, chips, ketchup.
• Replace your child’s toothbrush every three months. Involve them by letting them pick out the color or design. Always look for and use a soft bristle toothbrush.
• Playing sports for the school team or at after-school is the time to talk about mouth guards. It’s all about injury prevention.
• Watch out for juices, sodas and soft drinks! Children love these sweet drinks, but they’re also a significant cause of cavities. Instead go with water and non-sweetened drinks.
• Keep track of daily brushing and flossing habits. Your child should brush once in the morning and once at night after flossing.
• Settle on a schedule. Like when they were toddlers, tying brushing habits to bedtime is a good idea to create a routine for them. Try 30 minutes before bed time every night. When you’re finished it’s a good time for cuddling or reading.
• Begin a small reward system. Children respond well to positive reinforcement. Think about small rewards like stickers, extra snuggle time or reading an extra story with them after brushing and before it’s light’s out for bed. This goes a long way to having an enjoyable night every night.
  

This is challenging and sometimes frustrating. Don’t lose sight of your short term goals and your child’s long term prize. Your goals get you to your prize which is life long dental health for your family.

Most important, remember to have fun. Children love to have fun, so have fun with your child while you install in them good dental health habits that will last them their life-time.

What’s your dental hack? Share your tip, we’d love to know. Email us at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.me Like Us on Facebook at facebook.com/ kidstoothhotline.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!