It can be an all too familiar scene every day — nagging your kids to brush their teeth, then ordering them to brush their teeth, and then (hopefully it doesn’t come to this) begging your kids to brush their teeth.
Once you get into the habit of having good oral hygiene, it’s easy to take good care of your smile. But how do you get your kids into that habit so you don’t have to nag, and so they will always take good care of their teeth?
Here are a few tips for instilling good dental habits in your kids from the beginning!
Start early
When it comes to starting to take care of your child’s teeth, don’t wait too long. You can start introducing good habits when your child is one or two. Start with water on a soft toothbrush and gently brush their teeth twice a day.
If you want to use toothpaste to brush your toddler’s teeth, make sure it doesn’t have fluoride, as too much fluoride isn’t safe for them to swallow. You can switch to a fluoride toothpaste when your child is old enough to know that they have to spit it out.
Make it fun
As you’ve no doubt seen, there are many toothbrushes and toothpastes that are geared toward kids. Let your child pick out a toothbrush in their favorite color or one with their favorite cartoon character. And reward your child for their good habits — not with candy, of course, but maybe with a small toy or a special sticker. To really encourage them, promise them a fun activity after their dentist visit.
Lead by example
We’ve all noticed — sometimes much to our embarrassment — when kids pick up our bad habits. Use this to your advantage. If you keep brushing and flossing around them, odds are they’ll pick up that habit, too! (And don’t forget to visit the dentist twice a year for your own dental health!)
Pick an Albuquerque dentist who is kid-friendly
You should take your child to the dentist for the first time around the time they turn one. Make sure you choose a family dentist who knows kids and knows how to encourage them and set them up for good oral hygiene habits!
At Heflin Family Dental, we have years of experience giving families the dental care they need, with the kindness and compassion they want. We strive to not only keep your children’s teeth healthy, but to teach them that going to the dentist is not something to be afraid of, but something that can be a comfortable and even pleasant experience. Call and make an appointment for the entire family today at Albuquerque’s trusted family dentist—Heflin Family Dental!