Teaching Your Kids About Dental Hygiene

By: Jessica Stack | Saturday, January 30th, 2016 | Oral Health

Saturday, January 30th, 2016

Helping your kids develop healthy habits is one of your many responsibilities as a parent. Teaching your kids to take good care of their teeth will keep your children healthier and it may help save you money that would otherwise be spent on filling cavities. The following tips can help you teach your kids about the importance of dental hygiene.

Set A Good Example
Your kids pay attention to what you do, so start by setting a good example. Let them see you brushing your teeth after meals, flossing each day, and scheduling dentist appointments. When they know it matters to you, they’ll have an easier time understanding that it is important.

Boost Their Motivation
Help get your kids excited about taking care of their teeth by making it more fun. Very young children might enjoy keeping track of their success on a sticker chart. Older children might feel more invested if they get to pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. All kids are different, but use the things that motivate your children to encourage healthy habits.

Help Them Understand Why It Matters
Children almost always want to know why something is important so find some fun tools to help them understand why dental hygiene matters. There are many children’s books, TV shows, and coloring pages that can help educate your children about the importance of their teeth. Once they understand why it matters, they may be more willing to cooperate.

Provide Healthy Meals And Snacks
The food and beverages you consume can help to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and strong or they can contribute to cavities and other dental problems. Provide your children with healthy meals and snacks and avoid providing too much sugar so that they learn to eat and drink healthy things that are good for their bodies and their teeth.

Visit The Dentist Together
Regular dentist visits are an important part of keeping your teeth healthy. Schedule dentist visits for the whole family so that you can go together. This will show your children that you also care about visiting the dentist and it will help ease their fears about a new experience.

To learn more about keeping your whole family’s teeth healthy and clean, contact Dr. Stephen Price.