As a parent, it’s never too early to start encouraging your children to develop oral hygiene habits. Together, you and your dentist can teach your kids the importance of caring for their teeth and gums. Here are some suggestions about how to help your children learn good habits that will last a lifetime.

Do:

Be a positive role model.

Children tend to imitate their parents, so use that to your advantage when teaching your kids about dental care. Emphasize the importance of making oral hygiene a normal part of your daily routine, and demonstrate proper teeth cleaning techniques. You and your child can brush and floss together, so they associate these activities with spending time with you.

Schedule regular dental visits.

Kids should learn at a young age that visiting the dentist is a necessary part of taking care of their health. Many family dentistry experts recommend children start getting dental checkups around their first birthday. Dental appointments can be scary for some kids, but the earlier you start taking your child to the dentist, the less intimidating the experience will be.

Don’t:

Allow too much sugar.

There’s nothing wrong with letting your child have an occasional cookie or piece of candy, but these treats shouldn’t be a part of their everyday diet. Soft drinks and even fruit juices are packed with sugar, so limit your child’s consumption of those as well. Tooth decay starts when bacteria feed on sugars that accumulate on teeth, so get your kids in the habit of rinsing their mouths with water after having sweets.

Lose your patience.

It takes time for kids to learn new skills and build good habits, so don’t get frustrated if your child doesn’t take to oral hygiene right away. Try to make it fun to encourage their participation. If your child doesn’t like the taste of regular toothpaste, offer a fruit or bubble gum-flavored one made for kids. If they’re not coordinated enough to use dental floss, let them try an alternative like a water flosser.

Support your child’s oral hygiene by bringing them to Brian W. Charles, DMD, in McCall, ID. For over 30 years, patients of all ages have relied on Dr. Charles and his caring team for everything from routine oral exams to tooth extractions to cosmetic dentistry treatments. Call (208) 634-7653 today to schedule a dentist appointment, or visit their website to learn more about their services.