Whether going to the dentist is a regular practice for you or you often skip over your appointments, you know that encouraging good dental habits in your children is vital. By starting with these routines when your little ones are pretty young, you can protect against them developing major fears about going to the dentist.
Schedule Regular Dental Appointments
A crucial part of maintaining good oral hygiene is going to the dentist regularly. The dentist can help your children learn how to brush and floss their teeth properly. Further, the dentist can let you know if your children show any early signs of dental issues. Crafting a plan with a professional is the smartest way to responsibly take care of your children's teeth. If your kids are afraid of the dentist, consider offering your little ones a small reward after appointments. Slowly, your children can start to see going to the dentist as a less frightening experience.
Encourage Independence
Your children will not learn how to take care of their teeth if you are constantly brushing and flossing for them. As you start to see your kids improve their brushing and flossing techniques, take a step back on how much help you're offering. You can set a timer so that children know how long to brush their teeth. Encouraging independence in this area can help kids see taking care of their teeth as more of a personal responsibility than a chore.
Put an End to Thumb Sucking
Many children suck on their thumbs as a source of comfort. However, this practice could lead to dental issues. Now is the time to start weaning your kids off of this potentially harmful habit. Simply telling kids to stop isn't typically enough. Instead, you can try products that prevent your children from reaching their thumbs to their mouths or covers for the thumb that make thumb sucking unappealing. As you're reviewing products to stop thumb sucking, make sure to take your children's age into account. Also, have conversations with your children's dentist and doctor to determine which product is the most appropriate.
Encourage Healthy Eating
Of course, you likely want to take your kids out for ice cream or a burger once in a while, and you probably let them indulge around the holidays. To promote good oral hygiene, you don't have to forbid your children from ever enjoying some sweets. Still, though, you do want to limit these foods as much as possible. Eating candy every day, for example, can cause dental problems. Instead, think of some fun new recipes you can try in the kitchen with the kids. Eating healthy foods does not have to be boring.
Consider Athletic Concerns
As your kids get older, they might want to start playing sports. Unfortunately, when the days on the field, court, or rink begin, you might notice some of the children getting injured. Injuries to the mouth can be quite painful, and these types of problems might leave lasting damage. As thus, you want to take necessary precautions, especially if your kids play contact sports. For example, your children might need to wear mouth guards when they are playing sports.
Be Proactive
When the dentist says that your children are likely to need braces in the near future, you might push off the appointment for as long as possible. Maybe your kids have a big event coming up, and you don't want them to wear braces for that day. However, you must think about what is more important. Consider the message that you're sending to your kids if you delay necessary dental procedures. Be a model for your kids by showing them that they need to put their health first.
Your children's oral health is so important. When the kids are little, you have the opportunity to encourage them to develop good habits that can seriously last for a lifetime. Remember that as the parent, you also want to model these behaviors by taking care of your teeth and oral health as well.
