A bright, healthy smile is everybody’s dream, and the foundation for one is often set during childhood. To this end, it’s important to teach your child to care for their teeth. Read on to see five ways in which you can do this, and give them a gift they will never forget.
Have Them Floss Often
Teach your child how to floss and have them do it often. This helps remove food particles that the toothbrush misses, also keeping the gums healthy by stimulating them and reducing inflammation. Younger children may have a hard time flossing, but you can get them things that will make it easy for them to floss such as ready-to-use dental flossers. Research by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute shows that up to 95% of Americans consider their oral health to be an important part of their well-being. Despite this, over a third of Americans don’t floss daily. They miss out on the benefits of regular flossing, so teaching your child early on about its importance is a great way to set them up for a healthy future.
Give Them Healthy Food
Provide your child with healthy food that promotes good oral health, encouraging them to eat more crunchy fruits and vegetables whenever they need a snack. Limit their exposure to sweet, acidic foods which erode the enamel of the teeth. While they can have a few exceptions to eating sweet snacks, teach them to be mindful and eat them a minimal number of times. This is something that will benefit them even as adults, and will also be great for their overall health.
Take Them to a Dentist Regularly
This is a simple way for your children to maintain great oral health, and that will set a great foundation for their future. Regular visits to the dentist will help catch any issue long before it gets out of hand, and this gives ample time for the issue to be corrected easily and effectively. Aim for dental visits once every six months to set the right standard which your child will hopefully adhere to even as adults. With about 20% of the population lacking an ideal bite, there’s a chance that your child may need an orthodontist’s intervention, such as Invisalign Edinburgh, to correct their bite or something else, so don’t miss the opportunity to have it diagnosed early.
Teach Them to Brush Properly
While your child may be brushing often, they may not be doing it the right way. Help them get down the right formula for brushing their teeth by guiding them. For instance, make sure they brush their teeth twice a day, using circular motions with a soft-bristled toothbrush to get rid of plaque before it hardens. Also, ensure that they brush their teeth for two minutes each time they do, setting them a timer or playing a short, catchy song to help them keep track of time.
Provide Them a Fluoride Toothpaste
Finally, get them a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps provide a protective barrier to the teeth. It also fights germs that can cause tooth decay, minimizing the chances of cavities. As long as they use the right amount and avoid swallowing it, your children stand to benefit more from using toothpaste with fluoride in it. Even if they get aligners like Invisalign which need to be worn for 22 hours a day, you should have them know that it’s still extremely important to brush their teeth with the right toothpaste and in the right way to avoid stains.
Teaching your child the importance of good oral health habits is something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Take the time to ensure that they understand and practice these routines, and they will have a bright, healthy smile for the rest of their lives.
