We all want our children to maintain proper dental health that leads to a beautiful and healthy smile throughout their lives. Are you lacking ideas on how to implement a stronger dental routine? We’ve compiled a few ideas to help you teach your child about the right and wrong ways to take care of their teeth.
- Good Eats. Stock up on healthy snacks for your children to eat after getting home from school or for those in-between meal munchies! Fruits and veggies are an obviously wonderful choice for a healthy smile, but also things like cheese or yogurt that is high in calcium and protein strengthens your child’s teeth.
- Brushing Habits. Your kids should brush in the morning and before bed at night. After eating breakfast in the morning, they should brush their teeth before getting along with the day. Also, a nightly brushing routine is crucial since it prevents food particles and sugar from attacking their teeth while sleeping.
- Teeth Aren't Tools. Make sure your child knows the importance of protecting their teeth. Don’t let your child use their teeth as a tool because cracked and fractured teeth are the third leading cause of tooth loss. If your child decides to use their teeth for anything other than eating, then they have a higher chance of damaging their teeth. Also, children who play contact sports should wear mouth guards to avoid serious facial and dental trauma.
- Stay Hydrated. You’ve heard it over and over again but let us remind you again, it’s crucial to make sure your child is drinking enough water throughout the day. Not only does staying hydrated with water benefit a healthy body, it also keeps their mouth clean. Rinsing the mouth with water after eating during the day, neutralizes the acidity levels in their mouths and lowers the chance of getting cavities.
We hope these few ideas have inspired you to incorporate a stronger dental routine into your child’s lives. And of course, the biggest tip of all is to set a good example. Show your child that brushing and flossing is necessary in your daily life and going to the dentist every 6 months isn’t all that bad. Because we all know who they want to grow up to be like one day. That person is you! :)