How to Teach Your Child Proper Dental Hygiene

Showing Your Child the Importance of Dental Care

As parents, the most important thing is for our children to be happy and healthy as well. To set them on the path for a healthy life, it’s essential to teach them the importance of dental care at a young age. A healthy at-home dental care routine with regular dentist visits can help fight off cavities, periodontal disease, and tooth decay.

Here are some ways you can begin to show your little one the importance of keeping their smile clean, healthy, and bright from our team at Total Kids Dental.

How to Form a Healthy Dental Hygiene Routine

It’s not only important to teach your child a good routine for taking care of their teeth, but it’s also important to make sure they’re using it daily. Here are some tips to get you started:

Lead by example.

A child’s first teacher is typically their parent — so it’s important to lead by example. Showing them good dental hygiene behaviors will help inspire your child to do the same.

Use a gold star program.

Many parents use a similar system for their child’s chores — and it works just as well to encourage oral hygiene! Every time your child brushes their teeth or flosses, give them a star!

To keep your little one’s smile bright and cavity-free, they will need to keep up with a proper dental hygiene routine. This includes making sure they brush their teeth after each meal, floss daily, use mouthwash, and regularly seeing the dentist.

At the end of a week or month, they can even turn these stars in for a fun experience together or a small present.

Choose dental-themed books or videos.

Your child reads about history, science, and other subjects every day — why not add in important topics about their health? Include some fun tooth-friendly educational books into your child’s collection to inform them about dental health.

You can even make a day out together, going to the store to choose books that look fun for them and then read them together once you’re home!

Speak to your dentist for help.

Your child’s dentist isn’t just there to clean their teeth — they’re there with you on your child’s journey to a healthy smile. If you need help teaching your little one proper oral hygiene, rely on our team at Total Kids Dental to help.

We educate parents about prevention techniques to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy and how to teach good oral health habits as your child grows. For help, just mention it during your next appointment.

Choosing a Toothbrush for Your Child

There are so many options on the market, so it can be a bit tricky to determine what type of toothbrush is best for your mini-me. Here are some tips to help make your choice easier:

• Choose a toothbrush that has a smaller head.
• Choose a toothbrush that has soft bristles.
• Choose a toothbrush with an ADA seal of approval.
• Let your child decide between an electric or manual brush.

Teaching your Little One to Brush Properly

Having a good toothbrush is not always enough to keep your child’s smile clean — they’ll need to brush correctly as well. Here are some simple steps to help your child brush properly:

• Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle.
• Don’t forget to brush the front, top, and behind of bottom front teeth.
• Use short strokes and spend time cleaning each area of the mouth.
• Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while brushing to ensure they are brushing long enough.

Choosing Teeth-Friendly Foods

Your little one’s diet plays a critical role in their health. Choosing the right foods can support strong and healthy teeth and support a healthy immune system overall.

Foods dense in fiber, vitamin D, vitamin C, and other minerals can help strengthen our teeth. Introducing these snacks in your child’s diet can help fight off bacteria, clean their teeth, and reduce their risks of tooth and gum decay. Here are some great options to add to your little one’s meals:

Foods That Are Healthy For Your Child’s Smile:

• Dairy products like cheeses, yogurts, and milk.
• Crunch vegetables like celery, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli.
• Fatty fish such as salmon.
• Apples
• Blackberries

Foods To Avoid

The wrong foods can also lead to tooth decay and cause many dental issues down the line. Here are some foods to consider limiting in your child’s diet:

• Sugary drinks, snacks, and desserts.
• White bread or products with white flour.
• Potato chips
• Citric fruits
• Sour candies
• Dried fruits

Start Your Child’s Journey at Total Kids Dental

At Total Kids Dental, we go above and beyond patient expectations by creating a space where children feel heard, respected, and safe.

Our compassionate dentist, along with our leading and compassionate staff, provide children with the following benefits:

• Gentle & easy-to-understand treatments.
• Honest and personable communication.
• Playful, creative, and interactive atmosphere.
• Bilingual staff ( Farsi & Spanish).
• A trusted team of providers.

Contact our team today to schedule your child’s first appointment!