How To Teach Children Correct Oral Hygiene
No child enjoys brushing and flossing their teeth, and we feel for all the parents out there who are going through the daily teeth cleaning battle with their children. As adults, we know how important it is to make sure you practice good dental hygiene and as February is Children’s Dental Hygiene Month, we wanted to give our best tips for getting your children to brush their teeth and teach them how to teach children correct oral hygiene.
Why Should You Practice Good Oral Health?
Since we were children, we’ve all been taught to at the very least, brush our teeth for two minutes morning and night and have regular general dentistry checkups. But why is dental hygiene so important? If children understand why they need to brush their teeth, then they are more likely to get into a teeth-brushing routine.
Helps your overall health
By keeping your teeth, tongue and mouth clean, you are helping to prevent health complications and potentially life-altering diseases. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy can help detect and possibly prevent symptoms from the following illnesses:
- Bacterial Pneumonia
- Mouth and gum cancer
- Sepsis
- Infective Endocarditis
Prevents tooth Loss
Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth helps prevent the build-up of plaque, which can lead to severe tooth decay, gum infections and in serious cases, tooth loss.
Whiter teeth
Regularly brushing and cleaning your teeth helps to prevent the build-up of plaque on your teeth and keeps your mouth clean and healthy, leaving you with a radiant smile full of pearly whites.
How To Teach Children How To Brush & Floss Their Teeth?
Children are like sponges, absorbing everything which is said and done around them and to a certain extent, one of the best ways to teach your child proper oral hygiene is by showing them. Get your child to mimic what you are doing, whilst verbally explaining what you are doing (maybe without toothpaste in your mouth!). If children see their siblings, parents, friends, or grandparents brushing their teeth, then they are more likely to brush and floss their teeth properly alone.
Brushing your teeth, step by step
1. Ensure your child is holding their toothbrush at a 45° angle and holding it against their teeth.
2. Make sure they are using gentle, but fast back-and-forth brushing motions
3. Teach your child to brush all surfaces of their teeth, the top, back and front of each tooth, as well as along the gum lines and their tongue.
When it comes to flossing, younger children may require assistance, until they are older. With a long bit of floss, wrap the ends around your fingers and gently follow the curve of each tooth, gently pushing against and under the gumline to remove any plaque or food that brushing may have missed.
You could also encourage your child to practice brushing their toy’s teeth, by giving them a spare toothbrush to play with during the day, allowing them to become familiar with the weight and motions needed when using a toothbrush.
Make Brushing Teeth Fun!
While brushing and flossing your teeth is a sign that the day is over, and bedtime is fast approaching, a time which most children fight against! Making brushing and flossing fun for children can help them build up a healthy oral hygiene routine. With many toothbrush designs around now, why not get your child a fun toothbrush, with their favourite tv show character or favourite animal on? If they have a toothbrush they are proud of and want to use, you’ve won half of the battle. Next is to ensure they are correctly brushing their teeth for two minutes!
There is a song for everything these days, why not find a two-minute song like this Brush Your Teeth video on youtube, and play it for your child as they brush? Not only does this give them a two-minute timer, but the catchy music can help them brush areas of their mouth they may forget by themselves.
Having a fun bedtime routine allows positive association for your child, so the bed and bathroom routine is less of a chore, and more of an activity to get done!
Family Dental Plans From 41 South Bar
While it is important to ensure your child is brushing and flossing their teeth regularly, regular checkups at the dentist are incredibly important to ensure that your child’s dental hygiene is where it needs to be. However, we know how some children can find going to the dentist a scary ordeal, which is why we work hard to ensure whenever you visit 41 South Bar, our team of award-winning dentists who provide high-quality dental treatments, puts you and your children at ease.
Find out more about our affordable dental care plan rates in our latest blog ‘41 South Bar Dental Practice Banbury – Private and Affordable Dentists’ or contact our friendly reception team today on 01295 262008