By Emma 
Poor dental hygiene in children is rising. With the cost of living crisis knocking the cost of products increasingly high, we need to do our best to stay ahead of the curve and teach our children the importance of maintaining great dental hygiene. Teaching your children this sacred routine may seem easy, but they can quickly slip out of this practice if it is not properly installed into their routine.
In this blog post, we will share actionable tips to support you in teaching your children the importance of dental hygiene, and make brushing their teeth a time to enjoy Take a look at the following suggestions:
Table of Contents
Let them watch and learn
Children are constantly looking towards their carers to learn new life skills and attributes. If you haven’t considered brushing your teeth whilst your kids are around, they might be missing out on a valuable learning opportunity. Wait for your children to be up and out of bed before you brush your teeth. Even if they are pestering you and trying to distract you from the task, let them watch and learn as you brush your teeth without any expectations. After all, they want to be like their parents, in the same way, they want to copy their mum’s lipstick application, they will start to brush their teeth as well.
Stick to a strict nightly brushing regime
An oral hygiene routine should not be obstructed by anything. Unless there is an emergency, there is no excuse for your children to not brush their teeth. They might try to throw a tantrum, but you need to make it clear that at a set time every night, it is the time to brush their teeth. There are small ways you can trick your children into brushing their teeth. For example, you can allow them more time to play and stay out of bed once they have brushed their teeth. This instals a positive response into their mind when they brush their teeth, as they know they can stay up a little longer to play before bed.
Let them have their say
Letting your children have their options in their oral hygiene routine does not mean letting them skip brushing their teeth. It simply means giving them some authority in their hygiene routine. For example, you might let them choose their toothbrush and toothpaste. These are just small yet effective ways to give them authority and introduce them to making decisions for themselves.
Use music to keep them busy
Kids get distracted, especially when it is time to do the most important tasks. Ideally, teeth must be brushed for 2 minutes all around the mouth, but often children skip this all-important time. To make sure they brush their teeth for the optimal time, play one of their favourite songs for 2 minutes and have a little dance party in the bathroom. An undisputed brushing teeth routine is a great one, and your children can take ownership of their teeth brushing once it becomes a habit.
Perfect their diet
Dental hygiene for children is more than just how often they brush their teeth. Everyone needs to take care of their dental health from within, and that can only be done with a balanced diet. If your children are drinking lots of fizzy drinks and lacking nutrients in their diet, their chances of getting dental problems increase by 60%. Make sure your children are having lots of vegetables and fruits in their diet, and minimising their intake of sugars. This can be a difficult change, especially if you have been lenient with your children’s diet up to this point, but making changes sooner than later will be the best thing you can do for your children’s health.
Opt for a children’s friendly dental practice
It is not common for children to enjoy their trip to the dentist. They can be a cold, static place that is generally not appealing to younger generations. Visiting the dentist is imperative for maintaining good dental health, therefore you need to choose a children-friendly dental practice. This does not mean you need to find a dental practice with a play area, but simply find a reliable practice who are trained to put little nervous minds at ease. A dentists in Milton Keynes may be an option, or you might look more locally to find the most convenient practice for you
Bottom line
Overall, teaching your children dental hygiene is not an overnight task. It will take a lot of practice, tantrums and repetition from both you and the children, but once you get it right they will have a fresh, healthy mouth for the rest of their lives. Let them learn from your dental hygiene routine, allow them to choose their own toothbrush and also opt for a reliable dental practice just to name a few suggestions. Once their adult teeth come, that is all they have, so teach them to preserve their dental health today.
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