As our children develop throughout childhood, we must protect their oral health. Even before their first tooth appears, the healthcare steps we take are influencing their future oral health. After the primary teeth have arrived, optimal adult dental health requires that they remain in place until they fall out naturally. Despite being temporary, they are central in the proper development of the jaw and adult teeth. Teaching good oral hygiene is critical to supporting their lasting oral health. Instilling our children with the importance of these habits is best done early.
How To Promote Your Child’s Oral Hygiene Habits
The first stone to lay on your child’s path to lasting oral hygiene habits is empowering them. When people, regardless of age, feel empowered in their decisions, they’re more likely to develop lasting habits from them. Communication with your child during this developmental period will go a long way to having them become active participants in the process. Every time a decision is made regarding their oral health, they present them with a selection of choices. This feeling of empowerment can help your child feel excited and committed to developing these habits and persisting with them.
- Ask Their Opinion – It’s an unfortunate truth that parents often make decisions for their children without involving them in those decisions. Unfortunately, this tends to create a significant amount of pushback and can lead to them resisting the development of these essential habits. Let them select their toothpaste, the style of toothbrush they prefer, their floss, and their mouthwash.
- Present Them With Dental Visit Options – While you have to plan dental visits for days when they fit into your schedule, you can still give your child options. Find out when these visits are available, and give your child a choice. As they get older, you can even have them call with you and tell the doctor when they’d like their appointment out of the available options.
- Do Oral Hygiene As A Family – Spending time with your family is a great way to build memories. Combining it with habit-forming activities like oral hygiene can help ensure those habits stick. Pick a favorite song that’s at least two minutes long, and start forming memories and healthy habits with your family.
All of these tips are aimed at engaging your child in the development of oral health habits. They’ll be a massive step towards helping them develop the feeling that these habits are essential on their own. Further, they’ll know they’re respected and listened to in the decisions that affect them.
Speak With Your Dentist For Further Hygiene Tips
Your dentist works with families like yours every day, protecting their oral health and encouraging essential habits. Meeting with them can present additional ideas on how to handle difficulties you may encounter in this process. They can point you towards products they trust and ensure that your child is brushing correctly. Together with your family, your dentist can help ensure that you all have beautiful smiles that will last a lifetime.