There’s nothing more exciting than the eruption of your baby’s first primary teeth, especially after weeks of drooly and intensive teething. These early pearly whites don’t just signify an approaching readiness for solid foods; they’re the beginning of a lifelong need for proper and consistent oral health care.
Your child needs continued help with brushing and flossing until they’re old enough to do it properly themselves.
The average youngster requires ongoing oral hygiene supervision and occasional help with brushing until they’re about 6 years old, and most kids can’t effectively floss on their own until the age of 8.
It’s much easier to help your child build good dental care skills and habits when they’re excited about preserving their oral health.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, so please take a moment as the board-certified dentists at South Plains Rural Health Services, with multiple locations throughout Texas,
offer four sure-fire tips to help you foster your child’s enthusiasm for their oral care.
Kids don’t have a lot of responsibilities in life, but one thing is certain: They’re more likely to approach the ones they do have with enthusiasm when routine tasks are enjoyable. To make daily brushing and flossing feel less “obligatory” and more fun for your young child, you might:
Let your young child choose their toothbrush and toothpaste flavor from a selection you’ve already pre-approved. Ensure each toothbrush option has soft bristles, and every toothpaste option has the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.
Daily habits grow automatically with time, practice, and, perhaps most importantly, your prompting. A prompt is something that leads to a routine or a predetermined set of actions.
One easy way to help your child develop the automatic habit of brushing and flossing is to have them do it at the same time each day.
You may ask them to brush after breakfast but before they get dressed so that when they do get dressed, they’re free to play or head to school. In the evening, you may have them brush after they get into their pajamas but before their bedtime story.
Establishing a consistent oral hygiene time frame makes it easier for them to create automatic oral care habits.
Habit-building prompts can also be fun: To encourage proper brushing time, play a two-minute song.
If your child enjoys technology, several helpful apps aim to make oral care easier and more enjoyable for kids. Your child can track daily brushing, set timers, play music, and watch animated instructional videos.
To borrow a phrase, the family that brushes and flosses together has healthier teeth and gums and far fewer cavities! Whether your kids attend to their oral hygiene together or your entire family brushes at the same time, a routine daily task becomes more enjoyable with company.
Brushing with your kids has other benefits too. It’s easier to supervise your child’s developing dental skills (and help them improve) if you’re with them each time they brush.
Family oral hygiene time also gives you a great opportunity to model consistent oral care habits, which will make it that much easier to help your child establish solid habits and a consistent routine for life.
Routine dental cleanings and checkups are a vital part of preventive oral health care starting in early childhood (usually within six months of their first tooth coming in). Having twice-yearly dental exams helps ensure decay is caught early and treated right away.
It’s also the perfect occasion for Dr. Tran to:
If your young child is anxious about dental visits, you can help set them up for a stress-free, enjoyable appointment with a little advanced preparation.
Head to the library and check out a few picture books about going to the dentist or “play dentist” with a favorite doll or stuffed animal to help them understand what to expect. Kids of all ages get more excited about the dentist when you plan a fun, post-dentist outing or activity as a reward for a job well done.
To schedule your child’s next checkup at South Plains Rural Health Services, call the office closest to you to request an appointment or use the online scheduling tool.
