From baby teeth to adult teeth, it doesn’t matter what age your children are, you still need to make sure that you are helping them take care of their teeth. In the beginning that may mean weeding your child off their pacifier by a certain age and massaging their gums to help with the pain of first teeth. As they get older that will mean teaching them how to properly brush their teeth.
Aside from teaching your children about brushing their teeth, and general dental care, you also want to make sure they get regular dental checkups. They will have healthy teeth longer if you are proactive, and you teach them to be that way as well.
The Importance Of Brushing
Even before your child is old enough to understand the importance of dental care you still need to start teaching them. Once they are old enough to hold their toothbrush and coordinated enough to use it, you should start teaching them to brush. It’s important that you get them a child friendly toothbrush, which will be easier for them to hold.
It is also important to get them toothpaste made just for them, which will have safer ingredients and they will be flavored in ways that are also friendlier for children. While mint may be a favorite flavor for you, kids have a different palate and may be happier with bubblegum flavor, or something else more kid like.
Teaching Them How
It is important to teach your kids how to brush their own teeth. Until they have the dexterity to do so you’ll be doing it for them. But at some point they need to learn how to do it on their own.
Use a timer, set at two minutes, to help them know how long they need to brush, and make sure they know to brush front, back, and tops of teeth as well. They even make toothbrushes that play a song or tune for two minutes so that children know they brushed their teeth long enough.
A Lesson In Flossing
Flossing is just as important for children once they have all of their adult teeth as it is for you. However, you don’t want your children to hurt themselves, so you may want to wait until they are around in their pre-teens to let them start flossing on your own.
When your child does start flossing alone, make sure they are getting in between all of the teeth, even those that are harder to reach. Flossing goes a long way to help prevent cavities and future gum disease.
If you teach your children early about dental care they will be less likely to have cavities, and they will have a healthier life in general because of their healthy teeth and mouths!
