By Hadley Gavin
Healthy teeth are essential to your child’s overall dental health. They help your child talk and chew. Proper oral care helps set positive dental habits for the future. Bad oral care habits can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems. These teeth problems may not show up now, but in the future, they would cause a ton of questions. However, this isn’t something that would get your children to care for their teeth. Instead, you need to make the whole oral care process more fun for your children.
Help make dental hygiene fun with these tips.
- Let children help choose their toothbrush. It could be of their favorite color or character.
- Make your children choose the toothpaste. This way they can pick a flavor they like.
- Reward children for proper oral care. Offer something healthy or simple instead of sweets and candy, like apple slices or a gold star.
- Plan a fun activity following your child’s dentist visit.
Going To a Dentist
Going to a dentist early on in life is essential as it helps remove the universal fear of dentists. This also helps build a proper dental healthcare regimen for your child. The first time you take your child to the dentist is going to be an incredibly impactful experience. Hence it is essential to make sure that it is a positive experience. You can ensure this by taking your child to a child-friendly dentist. You can find great pediatric dentists online by searching via Google. If you live in Tennessee, a much recommended pediatric dental clinic is the Children’s Dentistry of Chattanooga. Be sure to take your child to the same dentist through the years to build familiarity and trust.
Questions To Ask the Dentist
- Which is the best toothbrush brand for your child?
- Can your child use mouthwash?
- What are the risk factors for cavities?
- How often should the dental visits be?
- If dental X-rays are safe for your child?
- If it is okay for your child to chew gum?
Braces
Some children require braces to straighten out their teeth and reduce the gap between the teeth. This is something you should probably get done early on in life since later it can lead to problems and embarrassment in front of peers. Getting braces in childhood can avoid that. However be sure to consult your dentist thoroughly before taking this step.
