Every parent wants their children to have an excellent start in life. One such way is by creating good oral hygiene habits that they can continue practicing well into adulthood. If you’re wondering how you can keep your kids interested in daily teeth brushing, look no further than this list of handy tips from All Kids Dental in Suffolk, VA.
Give A Helping Hand And Brush Your Child’s Teeth For Them
It takes a few years for children to develop the necessary motor skills to properly brush and floss their teeth. Until then, you can give your child a healthy beginning by brushing their teeth for them. As soon as your baby gets their first tooth, brush using a soft-bristle, infant-sized toothbrush, and a smidgen of toothpaste, no larger than a single grain of rice. When any two teeth are touching, floss between them once a day. Consider narrating or singing a song about toothbrushing and flossing to keep your baby engaged.
Lead By Example
You might be surprised by what an effect you have on your child, just by actively keeping up your own dental hygiene in plain view. Here is a refresher so you can be a good model of excellent dental care for your child:
- Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and move it back and forth in small strokes
- Begin at the gum line, and move to the chewing surface of your teeth. Make sure to brush each tooth and attend to every surface of each tooth.
- You can turn your brush vertically when addressing the inside surface of your front teeth for convenience and use short up-and-down strokes.
- Brush your tongue from back to front as well.
- Two minutes is a good guideline for how long you should brush your teeth.
Brush Together And Let Your Kid Try Brushing On Their Own
It can also be helpful if you and your child have a tooth-brushing routine and do it together, side-by-side. Gentle supervision and guidance can be very helpful for young children and are recommended up until a child enters the second grade. Most helpful is getting in the habit themselves, as most children learn by doing something first-hand. Having a mirror handy for the activity can be helpful as well. Don’t forget to let your child know everything they’re doing right, so they can continue to keep up the good work.
Kid’s Choice
Let your kid pick the toothbrush and toothpaste. Not only would kid-sized toothbrushes and kid-sized toothpaste tubes be more friendly for little hands, but your child would feel a sense of control over their routine. Sure, they would still have to brush their teeth in the morning and before bedtime–but they would get to pick the color of the toothbrush and the flavor of their toothpaste. That makes the experience feel much more personalized. Be sure to use child-safe toothpaste to keep your kids healthy, strong, and smiling.
When Should My Baby Have Their First Dentist’s Visit?
As soon as your baby is one year old, or when they get their first tooth, schedule your first dentist’s visit with us. If you are searching for the best dental care for your children in Suffolk and the surrounding Virginia neighborhoods, look no further than All Kids Dental. For pediatric dental expertise, call and schedule a visit with Dr. Joe and Dr. Brett today!
