As their first set of teeth, your children’s baby (primary) teeth set the stage for the growth and development of their adult replacements. Likewise, what you teach them in their early, formative years about hygiene and dental care will set the stage for how well they care for their permanent smiles in the future. To help you ensure that you give your children the tools they need for a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles, we examine a few things you should know about good dental hygiene and dentistry for kids.
Teaching Children to Brush Their Teeth
Brushing and flossing their teeth is one of the most important things you can teach your children. Habits develop early, and if you don’t help them build good, effective hygiene routines, then the poor practices children do develop will be harder to correct later in life.
- As early as possible, preferably as soon as (or before) your baby grows his/her first tooth, start brushing and flossing your own teeth in front of your children. The more they see you do it, the more familiar it will be when you show them how to brush their own teeth.
- As you begin to teach good hygiene, make the lessons fun. Children aren’t typically known for their long attention spans, and if it seems like a chore, they may lose interest fast. Play their favorite song while they brush, and make a game out of it to see who can get their teeth cleaner.
When Should Children Visit the Dentist?
By learning to care for their smiles at home, your children are learning a lifelong lesson on maintaining their good dental health. However, the rest of a good hygiene routine also involves regular visits to the dentist for your scheduled checkup and cleaning appointments. For children, these visits may seem intimidating, especially the first time. To help ease their anxiety, bring your children with you to your routine visits so they can become accustomed to the dentist’s office by the time they attend their first dental checkup.
To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling (203) 878-6699. The specialists at Sensitive Care Cosmetic & Family Dentistry proudly serve patients and their families in Milford, Stratford, West Haven, New Haven, and all surrounding communities.