Many parents have difficulty teaching their children proper brushing and flossing techniques. Children often have difficulty understanding why oral hygiene is necessary and how to do it properly, but teaching your child these habits can set them up to enjoy a lifetime with excellent dental health. Here are a few great ways to help your child get excited about keeping their teeth clean.
Explain Oral Hygiene with a Story
Terms like bacteria and fluoride can often go over a child’s head, but explaining the necessity of oral hygiene with a story can frame the concept in a way your kid can understand. You might tell your child their teeth are under attack by the terrible gum-eating plaque zombies and they must slay these hideous monsters with their magical toothbrush anointed with the powerful germ-killing potion known as toothpaste.
If your child is into superheroes, you might explain flossing by telling them that their teeth are like a city full of buildings and the spaces between them are like alleys where vile criminals like bacteria and plaque hang out. Your child’s heroic job will be to clean up the streets by removing these nasty accumulations with dental floss.
Make Oral Hygiene into Family Fun
Children learn many of their habits by observing adults, so modeling excellent oral hygiene for you kid can allow them to observe how you carefully and thoroughly clean your teeth. Brush and floss alongside them so they can mimic you as you spend two minutes gently cleaning each surface of each tooth before flossing all of the in-between spaces. You can also show them how you use antibacterial mouthwash, but don’t let your kid use it themselves if they are under six unless your pediatric dentist tells you otherwise.
Give Your Child a Timer for Brushing
Children can be easily distracted and often have a hard time keeping track of time, so it might be a great idea to give your kid a two-minute timer for when they brush their teeth. This can take the form of an hourglass, an egg timer, or even a fun recorded song, and it can help your kid establish brushing their teeth for a sufficient amount of time as a habit early on.
Excellent oral hygiene habits are one of the greatest gifts you can give your children, but it’s also important to have them see their pediatric dentist for regular exams and cleanings. These visits allow a trained professional to monitor their oral health and address issues in their early stages.
About the Author
Dr. Joseph DiBenedetto earned his dental degree from LECOM School of Dental Medicine and completed a two-year Pediatric Dentistry Residency at NYU Langone in Maryland. He is an active member of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. His office in Waterford offers pediatric preventive, restorative, and emergency dentistry. To book your child’s next checkup, contact his office online or dial (814) 679-4000.