It is a tough job to be a good parent. Parenting comes with a lot of challenges, and looking after the health of your kids is an altogether formidable task in itself. Inculcating good oral hygiene practices in your children is something which if done wrong, can have an impact on the future of your kid’s health.
You may be successful in persuading your children to get in the bathroom, but a lot of times the kids simply do not brush their teeth as per the necessity. Over time, this gets translated to oral problems and an unhealthy smile, which can put a dent on the confidence of your children.
To help you be a good parent, we bring you 9 hacks to keep your kid’s teeth healthy-
- BECOME A ROLE MODEL FOR THEM
Children tend to follow the habits and imitate people around them. As a parent, you can be the person they try to follow. Instead of sending them to the bathroom to brush their teeth, you can brush and floss together and make it a routine habit. It is going to be helpful for your kids in the long run.
- BE A GOOD TEACHER
It is always best to start teaching your children from an early age. You can easily teach your kids under three years of age about using a toothpaste. When they are able to spit out a rice grain sized amount and not swallow it, you can then let them use a pea sized amount. Once the teeth have grown enough, flossing and mouthwash can be done on a regular basis.
- STICK BY DENTAL APPOINTMENTS
Be regular in visiting your family dentist in Surrey, and make it a point to take your children along with you. Sticking to your dental appointments will make it a ritual activity. Ideally, your kid should be provided with the first dental appointment under the age of six months or by the time the first tooth pops up, whichever comes first.
- ENCOURAGE HEALTHY FOODS
Avoid getting food and drinks that are rich in sugar content to your house. Children will eat what is brought into the house, and foods rich in sugar carry a high risk of causing cavities. When this sugar keeps stuck on your teeth, it can cause tooth decay. Decaying teeth will never be a good idea to have a set of healthy, strong teeth.
- THE HABIT OF BRUSHING
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is something that is always recommended by orthodontists in Surrey, but is never followed by a majority of people. To impart this habit to your kids, not only you should start brushing twice daily but also be firm with your kids that this is something they cannot run away from. The importance of brushing teeth twice every day cannot be emphasized enough.
- DISCUSS ABOUT USING SEALANTS
To make sure that your kids have a healthy set of teeth, discuss with your dentist about getting the teeth of your children sealed. The sealants prove to be effective tools to prevent the growth of cavities and eliminate the requirement of filling the teeth.
- ENTICE KIDS WITH REWARDS
When you go out to get a toothbrush for your kids, take them along and let them choose the one they want, within a reasonable limit. You can then think to track their progress with a chart and put certain rewards like taking them out for a movie or a trip once they reach a certain target.
- PREVENT SHARING OF GERMS
Try to avoid sharing cups, bottles and utensils with your kids and even instruct them to not share their items with others. You not only risk the bacteria and germs present in your mouth spread to your kids, the same can also happen to you from your kids. In case of a small baby, make sure that you sanitize every item that reaches your baby’s mouth for avoiding any kind of an infection from bacteria.
- KEEP TALKING TO YOUR KIDS
You need to have conversations with your kids and give them an idea regarding the experience they can have at a dentist. With the appointment done, ask the dentist about any concerns you might about your kid related to thumb sucking, crowding or teeth loss.
About the Author
Dr. Riten Patel is renowned among both patients and colleagues for excellence in the field of cosmetic dentistry. He is highly experienced in the treatment of problems related to the jaw joint and related pains of migraine too. Combining his experience with Invisalign braces system at Mulberry Dental the patients are provided smiles which are simply perfect.