How to teach your child good oral hygiene

Teaching healthy habits is much more about what we do than what we say. Children will closely observe their parents’ behavior and other important adults in their lives as they learn and form their own behaviors and habits. In other words, it is important that parents practice what they preach when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene.

It can be difficult for children to understand the importance of taking good care of their teeth and gums and how it can impact their overall health. Fortunately, there are ways to engage kids using age appropriate activities to help them understand just how vital oral hygiene is. 

Here are a few strategies you may want to try: 

·         Give kids choices. Let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste, providing that they’re age appropriate. Before the age of two fluoride-free toothpaste is recommended.  From the age of two on it’s best to use an ADA approved brand containing fluoride. Characters on toothbrushes or a superhero on the tube of toothpaste might encourage them to stick to their brushing routine.

·         Show them how it’s done. Let them see you brush your teeth in the morning and evening. If the message is not resonating consider showing them some fun YouTube videos. Watching what a peer is doing is often more relatable and considered a lot “cooler” than mom or dad!

·         Invest in technology. If the novelty of a manual toothbrush wears off, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush. If you have more than one child, you can save money by purchasing one and then buying individual heads for each child. Turn brushing into fun-time using this new “toy” to do the job. For younger kids consider a less expensive option—adding a fun faucet fountain like a whale or dolphin to make it more entertaining.

·        Turn tooth brushing time into story time. If you are creative you can make up a story where all the bad guys have brown, ugly teeth. Otherwise, there are a number of great books to read aloud, like Open Wide by Laurie Keller or The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss.

There are many factors that help children learn how to take good care of their teeth and maintain a healthy smile. Beyond modeling good habits, the other most important thing a parent can do is book regular checkups and limit sugar intake. If a dental emergency should occur, contact your dentist immediately.