To provide our children a great chance of a future with good oral health, we have to start developing their habits early. There is more to teaching oral health than simply keeping them on a regular schedule of flossing and brushing. We have to be certain that they are doing it properly so that their teeth are as protected as they can be. To get these habits established properly, we have to ensure that our children are engaged and excited about caring for their teeth.
How To Get Children Engaged With Oral Care
Successfully getting your children invested in their oral health can be challenging. There are a lot of things to take into consideration to make this as successful as possible. Some of the common concerns that caretakers have about teaching their children to care for their teeth include:
- When should oral health education begin?
- What aspects should you focus on?
- What actually causes cavities, and what can be done?
- How do I help my children retain this important information?
The first part is simple; you should start teaching children about their oral health as soon as possible. Their first dental appointment should happen no later than after the appearance of their first tooth. However, often parents choose to take their child to the dentist before this. This helps establish an ongoing relationship with oral health and their dentist.
Children can be very impressionable, adjusting to new information and learning new concepts quickly. This makes getting started early a great way of helping this information sink in. Many children are driven by things that make them feel like ‘big kids, so emphasizing that while sharing this concept with them. This can help your children eager to incorporate this practice as a natural part of their day.
It’s essential to know that you can’t expose them to too much information about oral health. Their propensity to learn works best when practice and repetition are primary parts of teaching them new concepts. The best guide for what to share with them is what they ask. Once you start talking with them about oral health, answer any questions they have. Start simple, and get more thorough. When they start losing focus, you may be sharing information that would best wait for a later time.
A Basic Introduction To Oral Hygiene Education
It all begins with sharing why taking care of their teeth is important. They need to understand that these habits will help protect their teeth, even their baby teeth. Further, they need to know that their adult teeth will be with them for a lifetime. You should share each step of the hygiene process individually. Teach them about toothpaste, what it’s for, and how it works. Show them the effective way to brush their teeth to ensure they get all areas.
Then show them the basic steps involved with flossing their teeth and how to safely use mouthwash. Be sure to pick out a mouthwash that is alcohol-free and safe for children. If you have more questions, consult with your dentist to get more guidance!
