Children's Dental Health: Tips for Establishing Good Oral Habits Early
Nov 29, 2024
Looking back, many of us wish we had listened to our parents more and taken better care of our oral health during childhood. Because Let’s face it, most of us have dealt with a few toothaches as a result of too much candy and not enough brushing. But as parents today, we want our kids’ smiles to be bright, white, and healthy.
As you may very well know, kids don’t tend to be the most responsible dental hygienists. If we wish to keep our children’s dental health at its best and help them limit their dental visits to simple checkups, we need to act early. When oral hygiene habits are instilled at a young age, they become an automatic daily routine instead of new changes we need to remember to do. Good oral care means healthy teeth, bright smiles, and less time spent in the dentist’s chair. It’s a positive experience we wish for all our children.
Wondering where to start? Read more to uncover easy-to-learn children’s dental health tips for establishing early dental habits for children at an early age.
Build the Habit Early
When good oral habits are taught early, they last a lifetime. As soon as your child has the ability to hold a brush and their primary teeth begin to develop, that’s your signal.
Just like you, your child needs to adopt a regular brushing habit. Keep it simple at first by limiting the number of brushing sessions to twice a day, then slowly start moving towards once after every meal. The best way to go about this? Demonstration. Brush in front of your child and let them imitate you. Kids are more likely to do something if they see others do it first.
Help them learn correct brushing techniques. Grab their hand and gently guide them into brushing in circular motions using a soft-bristled toothbrush and covering hard-to-reach teeth and gums. Building proper brushing habits in children avoids potential oral conditions like tooth decay or gum disease and maintains a healthy smile.
Make It Fun!
Maintaining oral hygiene habits can sometimes feel dull, especially for kids. Making these early dental habits for children more appealing can become a lot easier when they’re transformed into a fun activity.
Singing a brushing song is a clever way to engage children in the activity. Choose a fun song, one that they like, and sing together as you brush with your child. This subtle practice takes the dull silence out of the process and motivates children to brush more, as it then becomes an enjoyable segment of their day.
Get them a colorful, character-themed toothbrush. Using a colorful toothbrush that looks and feels like a toy adds more fun to the process and helps children enjoy their time, turning this dental habit into something they look forward to doing every day.
Promote a Healthy Diet
In the process of protecting your children’s dental health, teaching them healthy eating habits plays a crucial role.
Limit the amount of unhealthy snacks, sugary drinks, and acidic foods in your child’s diet. These food choices can potentially lead to tooth decay or gum disease and increase the risk of cavities.
Encourage your children to limit their intake of sugary foods and shift towards healthy foods and drinking water. Vitamin C-rich foods like strawberries and oranges promote healthy gums and prevent gum disease, while apples and carrots are high in fiber, which stimulates saliva and neutralizes mouth acid.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
It can’t be stressed enough. Dental visits or regular check-ups play a vital role in maintaining children’s dental health and treating dental conditions in time.
At Swedish Dental Clinic, we recommend biannual checkups (twice a year). A dental check-up every six months allows our dentists the chance to check your child’s teeth, spot potential issues, and keep you up to date on how to take care of your child’s teeth.
The earlier, the better. Much like oral hygiene habits, visiting the dentist at an early age helps children get used to the process and become more familiar with it, increasing the chance of this dental habit lasting a lifetime.
Use Positive Reinforcement
In nature, kids are emotional beings. They seek love, attention, and praise. Letting your child know that they’re doing a good job encourages them to care for their teeth continuously.
Cheer and praise their efforts, helping them develop a sense of accomplishment every day they brush and clean their teeth. This can easily be done by saying, “Good job!” or giving them a warm hug after cleaning.
Reward them as they continue. Providing incentives is a great way to encourage early dental habits for children. Make a sticker chart, and after every brushing for two minutes, put a sticker on the chart. Similarly, a park trip or a new toy can be considered a reward. It will act as a motivation and will go a long way.
Dr. Nabil Mockbil, DDS, BDS
Dr. Nabil Mockbil is the head of Swedish Dental Clinic and one of the most experienced orthodontists in Dubai. By demonstrating incredible skills and embracing a kind attitude, he's proven to be not just a brilliant dentist, but someone you can fully trust with your smile. With 20+ years of experience under his belt and a warm smile on his face, you're search for the best orthodontist in Dubai ends with him.
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