Teaching kids about oral hygiene, to them, is as exciting as watching the History channel. As much as they detest the bedtime routine consisting of teeth brushing, dental health for kids is important. The habits they learn now will shape their futures. If your kids aren’t in a dental care routine, February is the perfect time to start because it’s National Children’s Dental Care Month. We’ve got some quick tips for developing habit-forming oral hygiene for children.
Child Dental Care Tips
Develop a routine
The American Dental Association recommends hanging up a calendar and marking off days when children complete a positive dental health routine. In order to pass off days children must:
- Complete two, two-minute brushings per day (morning and evening)
- Floss every time they brush
Reward children after a certain number of positive habits have been completed. Increments of time depend on age. If you’re just starting out, reward them every week then every two weeks, then every month, until they no longer require rewards to continue brushing.
Give unique rewards
When you’re a kid, reward is synonymous with candy. As far as dental health for kids is concerned, giving children kids candy as a reward for dental health is counterproductive. Try rewarding kids with things like:
- Going to a movie
- Visiting the park
- A new game or toy
It’s a good rule of thumb to reward kids in this way with any activity, not just oral hygiene for children.
Believe in fairies
The dentist gets a bad rap. Between painful procedures and time-consuming, mandated brushing, we don’t get to have a lot of fun. But while doctors have boring, ol’ lollipops, we have the Tooth Fairy.
The Tooth Fairy is a magical little lady who replaces fallen teeth with goodies. You can get creative with Tooth Fairy loot, just make sure you do it. Teaching kids about oral hygiene isn’t always exciting but who doesn’t love a fairy who gives you things?
Get Your Child Checked Out
Dental health for kids begins with a dental check-up. This way you know what you’re working with when it comes to educating them. Finish up National Children’s Dental Month strong by making an appointment with Smiles of Bellevue.
