Teaching kids the benefits of regular brushing and flossing early on in life will set them up to have beautiful, radiant smiles. The sooner you start building healthy habits, the easier it becomes to maintain them. But in terms of your child’s favorite activities, tooth care might be pretty far down the list. How do you encourage your kids to regularly brush and floss their teeth? You know that when they’re older, they’ll thank you for it. Here are some ways to persuade your children to maintain their pearly whites:
Start early.
You can take care of your child’s teeth even before they grow in. For newborns, apply a soft, warm washcloth to their gums and gently wipe twice a day. This will ensure that when your baby’s teeth come in, there will be no plaque to damage them.
Use the right toothbrush.
For a child’s teeth, you should select a brush with soft bristles, a small head, and a handle that’s easy to grip. Picking a brush with a cartoon character on it can be fun for them. Then, instruct your child how to brush their teeth properly. A brush should be held at a 45-degree angle; try to teach them what this looks like. Demonstrate how to brush from the base of the tooth and gum line towards the chewing surface. Reaching the molars in the mouth can be difficult - show them how to adjust their jaw to brush those hard to reach places. Finally, don’t forget about brushing the tongue and roof of the mouth!
Encourage flossing.
Once your child’s teeth are touching each other, it’s time to start flossing. Teach your child to measure a string of floss from their fingers to the elbow, and wrap it around their fingers. Then, help them make a C-shape with the floss that hugs both sides of the tooth, and scrapes from the gums to the very edge. It can be challenging for some children to use string floss, in which case you can purchase floss picks. These alligator-shaped flossers are easier to hold due to their plastic handle. Show your child how to rinse or remove plaque from the short thread as they floss.
Make it a game.
No child will be excited about brushing when it’s a dull, routine experience. Add something fun to the process to motivate them to do it. Marking a calendar each day that they floss can give them something to look forward to. You can also give them rewards; kids love incentives to get them to complete tasks. Offer to buy them a new toy if they brush and floss twice a day for a month. Flavored, colored toothpaste and floss will make them more excited to use those products - you can even let them select their preference at the grocery store.
You might think that there is no harm in having baby teeth with cavities since they’ll fall out anyway. But unhealthy habits that start early will carry on into adulthood. Build a healthy brushing routine early so that your child will avoid gum disease and tooth infections - not to mention dental bills. Are you looking for a dental cleaning in Fairmont? At Bonasso and Kime, we will help your child learn how to take proper care of their teeth. Call us today to book an appointment, and keep your children’s teeth strong for years to come.