The key to helping a child develop any healthy habit is to start early.
The key to helping a child develop any healthy habit is to start early. The sooner a child starts doing something, the more likely they are to continue. Provide plenty of encouragement. Make dental hygiene as fun as possible and your child will be a lot more willing to do it. Here are a couple of tips that may help.
Let the Child Pick Out Their First Toothbrush
If there’s one thing kids love, it’s going to the store and picking new things. Toothbrushes that were made for children are designed with small heads for little mouths and all sorts of fun shapes and characters on the handles. When it comes time to pick out their toothbrush, treat it like an extra special outing. Even if you’re just going to a store that you go to all the time, make this trip special. While shopping, try to steer your child toward dentist-recommended options. You can also purchase toothpaste made specifically for children that doesn’t taste too strong and won’t cause a “burning” sensation.
Teach Your Child How to Brush Their Teeth
Put a little bit of toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush and show them how to brush all of the surfaces in their mouth. Remind them not to push too hard, so they don’t hurt their gums. Make sure they know how important it is that they brush for a full two minutes. There are teeth-brushing time smartphone apps, tooth-brushing timers, and just regular kitchen timers as well that can help children keep track of time. Also, make sure children know not to swallow excess toothpaste. Show them how to spit the excess in the sink and rinse it away.
Show Your Child How to Floss Properly
Teaching children to floss can be tricky, especially young children. Younger children lack the proper fine motor control required to floss properly. Starting when a child is young, floss their teeth for them and talk them through every single step. If they express interest in doing it themselves, give them a length of floss to start trying with. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes flossing will cut gums, and a lot of children get squeamish at the sight of blood. If your child’s gums start to bleed while flossing, remind them that as long as they remember to floss regularly, they won’t get boo boos from it.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Oral Health Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online.
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