Brushing and flossing are the foundation of you and your kid's oral hygiene. But how can you be sure that your child's teeth are getting the proper daily care they need? Our Smile Town Langley dentists offer some tips for improving kids' (and parents'!) daily oral health routine.
Brushing and flossing your teeth is the cornerstone of good dental hygiene, whether you're 5 or 55 years old.
But, it can sometime be a bit more difficult to know if you and your child are doing enough to maintain good oral health. Especially when a regular hygiene routine isn't always the most exciting for kids.
Here are a few ways to improve your and your child's daily dental hygiene (and make it fun too).
Make Brushing and Flossing a Family Activity
We often brush our teeth right before bed and when we wake up in the morning: times when the whole family is together anyway.
Taking the time to all be in the bathroom together can be valuable in our busy lives. You may find you appreciate the extra family time.
Plus, you can set a good example for your kids by showing them how you brush your teeth (and keep yourself honest about it in the process).
Use Exciting Ways of Keeping Time for Brushing
Brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day is the cornerstone to good oral health. But that time can drag on, especially for kids!
Try using their favourite song as a way of keeping time. Most songs are 2-4 minutes, and selecting a playlist to their brushing will make it much more exciting for everyone.
You could also try using a commercial break as a timer for brushing teeth. The time constraints of getting to the bathroom, brushing their teeth and only getting to stop when their favourite show is back on can make toothbrushing a high energy event for your kids!
Let Your Kid Choose
Toothbrushes come in all shapes, colours, and themes. Letting your child choose a toothbrush with their favourite character featured on it will go a little way towards making them excited about brushing every day.
Likewise, dental floss and toothpaste come in many varieties and kid-pleasing flavours. If your child likes their toothpaste and floss, they will be way more enthusiastic about their oral hygiene.
They get to feel like they're making a decision about something important too, encouraging their interest in daily oral hygiene.
Start Brushing and Flossing With Your Child Early
Before your child is able to brush and floss their own teeth, you should be cleaning their mouth for them.
As soon as your child has their first tooth, it's time to begin brushing, and as soon as they have two teeth beside one another, you can begin flossing.
These are opportunities not only to keep your kid's mouth clean, but to show them what good oral hygiene looks like.
The earlier you begin flossing their teeth, especially, the better chance your child will simply consider flossing a normal part of oral hygiene—setting them up for a lifetime of good oral health.