If you\u2019re a parent, you\u2019ve probably tried every type of motivation\u2014reasoning, cajoling, nagging, threatening punishments, even bribery\u2014to get your kids to do things that they just really need to do. Eating vegetables. Getting dressed for school. Going to bed. And yes, brushing their teeth.<\/p>\n
Good oral hygiene is about more than a winning smile. It contributes to our sense of self-esteem and confidence\u2014and what parent doesn\u2019t want a child who\u2019s happy, confident, and proud of him or herself?<\/p>\n
What you might not know is that oral health contributes greatly to your\u2014and your child\u2019s\u2014long-term holistic health. Poor oral health is linked to diseases including obesity, diabetes, and even heart disease. Encouraging your children to take care of their teeth sets them up for a lifetime of good oral health\u2014and good health in general.<\/p>\n
Start early\u2014but focus on the big picture<\/em><\/strong> Toddlers aged two to four can begin brushing by themselves, preferably for two minutes, but don\u2019t use fluoride toothpaste until your child knows not to swallow it. Start flossing your children\u2019s teeth around the same time, as their teeth start to fit closely together. If you haven\u2019t already brought them in for a first dentist\u2019s visit, now is the time to start as well. Make sure your children understand the basics:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo what I say, not what I do.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s always a temptation to tell others\u2014kids, especially\u2014to behave a certain way, even if we don\u2019t always do so ourselves. Be kind to strangers. Share. Be generous. But children learn more by watching their parents and friends every day.<\/p>\n If you take good care of your teeth, they\u2019ll learn implicitly that oral hygiene is important and worth practicing. It\u2019s understandable that bathroom routines are \u201cprivate time,\u201d but don\u2019t be shy about brushing or flossing in front of little ones. They\u2019ll pick up good habits that way. What parent hasn\u2019t turned a boring or unpleasant chore into some sort of a game in order to convince a child to participate? The answer: zero. And that\u2019s a fact. Here are some simple ways you can turn oral hygiene into something more fun for kids:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Day-to-day hygiene routines are the foundation of lifelong oral health, so there\u2019s no substitute for the time you spend with your children, teaching them the fundamentals of brushing and flossing.<\/p>\n But at Marquis Dental Center, we\u2019re here to help. When you bring your child in for a visit, let us know if you have any concerns or issues you\u2019d like to discuss. We want to make sure that your kids have a positive, friendly, age-appropriate dental experience each and every time they come to our office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to Teach Kids to Care for Their Teeth (and a Little about Why and When, Too) If you\u2019re a parent, you\u2019ve probably tried every type of motivation\u2014reasoning, cajoling, nagging, threatening punishments, even bribery\u2014to get your kids to do things that they just really need to do. Eating vegetables. Getting dressed for school. Going to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":202329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202328"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=202328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marquisdentalcenter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=202328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nOne way to make sure children take oral hygiene seriously is by starting early. Wipe their gums with a soft washcloth after bottle feedings, and once their baby teeth come in, brush them twice a day with a soft toothbrush and water.<\/p>\n
\nChildren don\u2019t have the coordination to do as thorough a job as adults. They may not even be able to use dental floss until they\u2019re 10 or so.; (Floss picks are easier for young kids.). But the key is to begin building good oral hygiene habits early on in life.<\/p>\n\n
Set a good example.<\/h2>\n
\nMake it fun!<\/p>\n\n
Remember, we\u2019re here to help.<\/h2>\n