Many of us are afraid of the dentist and sub-consciously, we pass this fear on to our children. Instead of doing this, we should teach them important dental health habits. As kids live by parent’s examples, remaining calm in the dentist’s chair will go a long way in giving your child the confidence he needs to do the same. Here are a few strategies you may want to try to ensure that your kids grow up with healthy teeth and gums.
Show ‘Em
As parents, we know that the best way to teach kids anything is by example. If your young child sees you brushing your teeth after every meal, chances are that he may want to do the same. If you have a toddler at home, make brushing time a teamwork effort by doing it together – it sounds like fun too!
Make it a Story
Although bribery is frowned upon in a lot of parenting situations, it works wonders when it is time to brush their teeth. Tell your child a story when he is brushing his teeth – his brushing should last as long as your story. Be creative and come up with stories ideas that will keep their interest and have some crazy ones where the knight defeats the plaque in their mouths!
Go High Tech
With children (and many adults), anything that looks like a gadget immediately becomes more attractive. Make brushing more fun by getting your child an electric toothbrush. They are faster and gentler on teeth and gums.
Tools
By the time your child is about 7 years old, he is more ready to brush his own teeth and although you may still have to remind them to brush, the supervision when they are brushing can slowly slow down. They can get some tools to help them, like an alarm that sets off every 30 seconds to remind them to move to another section of their mouths.
Dental care habits that are formed at a young age equip kids to take care of their teeth for the rest of their lives.
