Teaching your child early on about the importance of maintaining good oral health prepares them for a life of healthy teeth. However, most kids don’t necessarily enjoy teeth cleaning, and this can be stressful for parents. If you’re looking for ways to teaching your child good dental habits, try these four tips.

How to Instill Good Dental Habits in Kids

1. Lead by Example

Kids look up to their parents. Use this to your advantage, and show your kids good habits by example. Make sure you eat healthy foods, and avoid sugary, unhealthy drinks and snacks. Show them how seriously you take teeth cleaning whenever they’re around. 

2. Visit the Dentist Regularly

Children are often afraid of the dentist and dread the trip to the dentist’s, especially if you don’t maintain regular trips. Make sure you schedule regular dental appointments – generally one every six months – and remind your children that you, too, go to the dentist to make the experience easier for both you and them. 

3. Give Them Independence

After a certain age, kids like to do things without the help of an adult. Giving them the right tools and responsibility can help motivate them, even though they will still need supervision until age seven or eight to make sure they brush their teeth properly.

4. Make It Fun

Kids often don’t want to brush their teeth because they find it boring or annoying. Make teeth cleaning fun by using colorful, themed toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, or use a whale- or dolphin-shaped fountain faucet attachment to make the experience fun for them.

 

 

If you’re a parent looking for a trusted dentist, turn to Montana Center for Laser Dentistry PLLC in Whitefish, MT. For 18 years, their dentists have been practicing general dentistry and laser dentistry. They are experienced in teeth cleaning, dental implants, oral exams, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and more. If you would like to learn more, you can visit their website. Call their Whitefish location at (406) 862-1010 or their Kalispell location at (406) 730-1010 to schedule an appointment.