Home Education; Teach Your Children How to Brush and Floss Their Teeth
It’s back-to-school time and now might be the time to focus on home education teaching your children how to properly brush and floss their teeth. In just two minutes, twice a day, your kids can lay the foundation for a lifelong healthy smile and you can make toothbrushing a favorite part of their day!
There are a few things in the life of a child that are non-negotiable. Brushing their teeth is one of those hard and fast routines that can’t be skipped. A regular tooth-brushing routine is a healthy life-long habit that is essential in fighting tooth decay. Following are some ways to help them brush both morning and night.
Make Tooth Brushing Fun
There are ways to get your children to brush and floss their teeth by adding an element of play to the mix. Although it can be challenging, it is a worthwhile effort, especially when you think of the statistics that indicate 90 percent of school-age children have tooth decay.
Play Games
- Games, and music can make oral care a memorable experience! There are several videos and songs to help encourage proper brushing.
- Tooth-brushing moves from being a task to being something they look forward to! Brushing their teeth CAN be fun!
- Brushing their teeth for two minutes may seem like an eternity to a young child, but an electric toothbrush with a timer will make your child’s dental routine a fun activity.
- Selecting various music that lasts for 2 minutes will be tangible as they brush their teeth until the song ends.
Devise a Reward System
Children are not necessarily motivated by the promise that good dental hygiene is worth all the effort. What do your children enjoy? Use a reward system to take care of their oral health.
- Since you are educating them to take care of their teeth, make sure you’re not rewarding them with candy or other sugar-laden incentives.
- A simple sticker chart to help keep track of his or her brushing and flossing might be the best incentive for now. As you try to establish these healthy habits, rewards can be the perfect motivator!
- Most children respond well to positive reinforcement, so be sure to be generous with praise when your child does a good job brushing and flossing!
- Rewards don’t have to be elaborate. Reading an extra story, or a trip to the library after a week’s worth of good brushing might be the incentives they need to form good habits.
How Well Are They Brushing?
- Teach proper brushing methods so that brushing is effective.
- GUM Red-Cote Plaque Disclosing Tablets visibly indicates the areas of your child’s teeth where additional brushing and flossing is needed to fight plaque buildup. These chewable plaque tablets can make brushing fun and help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
- Use fluoride toothpaste and a child-sized soft toothbrush. Replace his or her toothbrush every three to four months. To make it even more fun, let your child pick out their own toothbrush.
Routine Dental Appointments Are Important!
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child begin routine checkups around age one. Early experiences with the dentist, reinforces that going to the dentist is a safe and friendly place. Children who get in the habit of going to the dentist twice a year from an early age have a much better chance of having healthy teeth into adulthood.
Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS is dedicated to helping your child achieve a healthy smile Contact her online or call (720) 409-0008 to schedule an appointment.
Begin today as you educate your children in better ways to brush and floss their teeth!
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