Brushing and flossing are the foundation of you and your kid's oral hygiene. But how can you be sure that your child's teeth are getting the proper daily care they need? Our Smile Town North Delta dentists offer some tips for improving kids' (and parents'!) daily oral health routine.
Brushing and flossing your teeth are key to good oral hygiene, whether you're 5 or 55 years old.
It can sometimes be difficult to know if you and your child are doing enough to maintain good oral health though. Even more so when it comes to kids who aren't excited about a regular hygiene routine.
Here are a few ways to add some fun to your and your child's daily oral hygiene (and improve your habits too!).
Let Your Kid Choose
Toothbrushes come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Letting your child choose a toothbrush featuring a character from their favourite movie will help them get excited about brushing every day.
Likewise, dental floss and toothpaste come in many varieties and kid-pleasing flavours. Your child will be more enthusiastic about their oral hygiene if they like the taste of their toothpaste and floss.
They get to feel like they're making a decision about something important too, encouraging their interest in daily oral hygiene.
Make Brushing and Flossing a Family Activity
We often brush our teeth right before bed and when we wake up in the morning: times when the whole family is together anyway.
Making a point to brush your teeth and floss together as a family can be invaluable. You may find you appreciate the extra time together.
You can also set a good example for your kids by showing them how you brush your teeth (and keep yourself honest about it in the process too).
Use Inventive Ways of Keeping Time for Brushing
Brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day is the cornerstone to good oral health. But that time can drag on especially if you or your kid are feeling impatient!
Try using a family-favourite song as a way of keeping time. Most songs are 2-4 minutes, and creating a soundtrack for brushing will make it exciting for everyone!
You could also try using a commercial break as a timer for brushing teeth too. The time crunch of getting to the bathroom, brushing their teeth and only getting to stop when their favourite show is back on can make toothbrushing an exciting event for your kids!
Start Brushing and Flossing With Your Child Early
Before your child is able to brush and floss their own teeth, you should be cleaning their mouth for them.
As soon as your child has their first tooth, it's time to begin brushing. When they have two teeth beside one another, you can begin flossing.
These are opportunities to make sure your kid has good oral health early and to show them what good oral hygiene looks like.
The earlier you begin flossing their teeth, especially, the better chance your child will simply consider flossing a normal part of oral hygiene—setting them up for a lifetime of good oral health.