Your teeth are one of the most important parts of your entire body. They are integral for some of the most essential human functions, such as eating and communicating, and your smile is one of the first things people notice when meeting you. And you only get one set of adult teeth. If you neglect to look after them, you will increase your likelihood of suffering dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and potentially even tooth loss.
This is why it’s so important that, as a parent, you instill good oral hygiene habits into your children from a young age. You might think that because they are going to lose their baby teeth anyway that it doesn’t matter that much whether they clean your teeth every night. But good habits are acquired from birth onwards. If you teach your child that it’s OK to neglect their teeth, they will continue these bad habits into adulthood and suffer the consequences, potentially ending up having to spend all their savings on cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
It is your responsibility to hammer home the importance of good dental health, and take practical steps to encourage your child to continue these behaviors even when you are no longer around to help them.
To get you started, here are five tips for looking after your child’s teeth
Make it fun
The easiest way to get a child to do anything is to turn it into a game. If your child sees tooth brushing as a boring chore, they will try and wriggle out of it whenever they can. Try and turn their twice-daily cleaning routine into a fun activity that they look forward to. For example, put on a song they enjoy and get them to clean their teeth for the duration, perhaps while trying to sing along at the same time.
Set a good example
Children look up to their parents, and your behavior will directly impact theirs. If they see that you don’t take good care of your teeth, they will likely follow suit. Let your child see that you diligently brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and talk to them about the correct technique to ensure optimum hygiene.
Take them to the dentist
Even if your child has a healthy mouth, you should still take them to visit the dentist every six months. This will be beneficial for them in several ways. Firstly, their dentist will be able to check up on the health of their mouth and spot any red flags you might have missed. Secondly, it will make your child feel more comfortable with the dentist’s chair and not see it as something to be scared of.
If you don’t have a dentist yet, you can rely on the power of the internet by searching for a term like “dentist near me Germantown“.
Promote a healthy diet
Your diet has a tremendous impact on the health of your teeth, and you should take care not to give your child too many sugary treats or fizzy drinks, as these can lead to tooth decay and staining.
Be strict
Your child’s dental health is of utmost importance, so you must be strict about it. If they try to get out of brushing, you need to put your foot and ensure they maintain their cleaning routine.
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