Instilling good oral hygiene habits in your child when he or she is young, can help him or her maintain oral health into adulthood. Today our Elmhurst dentists are sharing some tips on how to help your child learn about oral health, and develop healthy techniques and habits.
Start with the basics
The foundation of any healthy oral hygiene routine is twice daily brushing. Be firm and consistent about having your child brush her teeth every morning and every night. Your child can also start flossing every night before he or she flosses. Don’t skip days!
Use the right tools
When choosing a toothbrush, make sure that your use one that is designed to fit into your child’s mouth—this will allow him or her to clear away that plaque in the back of their smile. Also, talk to your dentist about when your child should start using fluoridated toothpaste; generally, the recommendation is for pediatric patients to only start using toothpaste with fluoride once they have learned not to swallow it.
Be thorough
The American Dental Association recommends that patients brush their teeth for a full two minutes each time that they brush. You may want to have a stopwatch in the bathroom, or play a song that is about two minutes long, in order to help your child keep track of time. It is better to brush gently for a full two minutes, rather than applying too much pressure.
Introduce your child to the dentist
Keeping up with your child’s schedule of semi-annual professional cleanings will help your child develop good associations with dental treatment. Children who have positive early dental experiences are less likely to experience dental anxiety in the future.
If you want to learn more about pediatric dental care, our Elmhurst family dentists are here to give you all of the information that you need. We look forward to speaking with you!