Empower Kids to Care About Teeth There are many things you have to get on to your children about. Pick up your room. Don't put frogs in the toilet. Stop hitting your brother. Part of your job as a parent is to teach your children to advocate for themselves because you won't always be there to advocate for them. This level of teaching also has to stretch to their oral hygiene as well. Not sure how to empower your children to care for their teeth? Jacobsen Pediatric Dentistry has some suggestions for you to make sure your child becomes a dental hygiene warrior.Give Your Child Some ChoicesChildren are constantly bombarded by a lack of choice. Everything is chosen for them from the time they get up in the morning until the time they go to sleep. To get your kids excited about dental health, let them make some choices. Let them pick a toothbrush with their favorite characters on it, for example. Let them try several different types of toothpaste to see which flavor is their favorite as well. When children are given choices, they are far more likely to be invested in what you want them to do, which means they will be far more willing to brush their teeth. Family Brushing Time With young children, anytime you can make a game out of work, you will make it more exciting for your child. Why not have a family tooth brushing party? The more creative you can get with family brushing time, the more invested your child will be in brushing their teeth each day. Put some music on and dance around. Make funny faces in the mirror. Use your toothbrush like a magic wand. Be sure that you and your child are brushing for two minutes. Researchers say that two minutes is long enough to make sure your teeth are clean. When your child sees that you think tooth brushing is important, they will be more likely to brush their teeth correctly. Praise your child, and let them imitate you. If you have to, you can always help them brush, but allow them to be as independent as possible.Other Dental Hygiene TipsBesides healthy brushing, there are other things that you can do with your child to help keep up their good dental health. First, be sure to let your child choose healthy snacks, such as fruits and vegetables. Tell the child how important good nutrition is for their bright, shiny teeth. Not only do fruits and veggies help keep your child's teeth clean, but they also help them with their eating patterns - which will stay with them throughout their lives. Also, make sure that you schedule regular dental checkups for your child. That way, your son or daughter will be able to go to the dentist without fear as they get older. If you want more information about making sure your child's mouth is healthy, why not give Jacobsen Pediatric Dentistry a call at (971) 459-2431. We love to talk about making kids empowered to make good dental choices! |
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