How To Get Your Child Excited About Dental Hygiene
As adults, we understand the importance of good dental hygiene and know what steps to take to achieve it. For children, prioritizing quality dental care can be more of a challenge. Many parents know the difficulties of getting their children to the dentist without tantrums or meltdowns.
With 20% of adults in the U.S. admitting that they've suffered from anxiety due to the condition of their mouth and teeth, instilling a commitment to good dental hygiene in your children now can save them these insecurities in the future. Use these tips to make dental care fun for your kids and rest easy knowing that you're setting them up for success.
Brush and floss as a family
While the main goal of bedtime may be to get your child under the covers as seamlessly as possible, you can use this time to make brushing a fun activity for everyone. Children mimic everything that their parents and siblings do, even something as mundane as teeth brushing. Show your kids how you brush and floss your teeth. You can even create a fun rhyme or song to accompany brushing time to make this routine something they can look forward to.
Take the fear out of dentist vists
Before you take your child to their first appointment at your family dental practice, be sure that you prepare them. Be honest with your little ones and tell them what is going to happen during your appointment. You can even role play a dentist visit to give them a better idea of what it is like for a dentist to look into their mouth. If you think it will help, you can take your child to the family dental clinic beforehand so that they are more familiar with the environment and the dentists there.
Give them a special toothbrush
Children love feeling special, even for reasons that seem boring to adults. One way to get them excited about dental care is to make a big deal out of picking their first grown-up toothbrush. This will put your child in control of their hygiene while also making them feel like a big kid. Your little one will be bubbling with excitement to use the special toothbrush they picked out, especially if it is one of the many character toothbrushes that are on store shelves.
By making positive associations with dental care at a young age, your child will love going to the dentist. Contact Aesthetic Family Dental Care today to set up an appointment or learn more about cosmetic dentistry services.