Teaching Your Kids Smart Oral Health Habits

teaching your kids smart oral health habitsGood oral health is important even in our earliest years. Your child should begin seeing your dentist early – their first visit should happen by around their second birthday. These early appointments operate as a means of observing a child’s developing oral structures, but they can also serve as learning opportunities. Your dentist can review proper brushing and flossing techniques so that your child understands how to care for their teeth at home. With the help of dental sealants, your dentist can even put an extra layer of defense between your child and tooth decay.

The Importance Of Effective Brushing And Flossing

If your child brushes and flosses their teeth, but does so poorly, they are not receiving the full protection you might expect. By missing spaces on teeth, your child can allow bacteria to persist in causing cavity-causing damage to their enamel. At each brushing, your child should clean the outer and inner surfaces of teeth, and the chewing surfaces. While flossing, your child should use an up and down motion so that they are completely targeting the areas between their teeth.

The Value Of Semiannual Dental Visits For Your Child – And For You

Is your child seeing your dentist twice a year? Are YOU seeing your dentist twice a year? One thing to consider when it comes to oral health is that you can be a role model for your child. By showing that you care about your teeth, it reinforces the idea that these behaviors are of value. You should also see your dentist because, like your child, you can benefit from these regular checkups and cleanings.