Chiropractic Healing Works

What You Can Do To Help Ensure That Your Child Practices Proper Dental Hygiene

28 July 2015 by Charlie Berry

Kids tend to eat a lot of junk food in the form of fries, chips, cookies, and sugary drinks, which all play a part in tooth decay. Most kids also lead pretty busy lives full of school and social events– so it isn't surprising that dental hygiene is typically put on the back burner by many young people.

With a combination of not-so-healthy snacking habits and a tendency to neglect oral hygiene, it's possible for your child to end up experiencing the need for major dental work, such as root canals, as they age. Luckily, it's never too late to instill proper hygiene habits that your kid can appreciate as they age into adulthood and begin having a keen interest in keeping their teeth healthy. Here are some things you can do to help ensure that your child practices proper dental hygiene now and in the future:

Invest in an Electric Brush

An electric toothbrush makes brushing more fun for people of all ages, and it can do a good job of scrubbing plaque off teeth even when your child isn't spending a lot of time brushing during each session. You should be able to hear the motor of the electric brush running when it is used, which will help confirm that your child is indeed fulfilling their oral hygiene responsibilities when they are supposed to be.

Create a Reward System

A great way to help instill proper oral hygiene habits within your child is to create a reward system that encourages them to brush and floss on a daily basis. A daily brushing and flossing habit is something that can be easily carried with your child through college and beyond, minimizing cavities and the chance of dealing with other dental problems.

Consider using a star system where every time you witness your child brushing and flossing, you put a star on the correlating date of your family's wall calendar. When a specific amount of stars (for example 5 or 7) have been earned, you can provide a small reward such as a trip to the movies or a night at the arcade.

Try Some New Tools

Your kid will be more likely to pay attention to their oral health if they have cool tools and resources to use. For example, glow in the dark toothbrush handles and brightly colored floss make the occasion of brushing more joyful overall. Gum designed to clean and brighten teeth, plastic pastel pocket toothpicks, and fruity flavored toothpastes are just a few other fun options that can make brushing more enticing.

Use a Few Visuals

Rent some books from the library and print some resources off the internet to create a portfolio of visuals that show the effect of not properly taking care of teeth. Photos of serious tooth decay, literature about the process of having a root canal done, and guides about proper dental care are all helpful visual aids.

Once your visual portfolio is done, have a meeting with your child and go through the portfolio together, taking the time to answer or look up any questions that come your way. This technique will give your child a visual reference to think about when deciding whether or not they want to take the time to brush their teeth before leaving for school or after filling up on dinner.

Visit the Dentist

It's also important to get in and see the dentist once or twice a year for a professional cleaning and to get an update on the health of your kid's teeth and gums. Regular dental checkups will help you determine just how well your child is taking care of their teeth, and in which areas you have to work on together as a team in order to see some improvements.

These tips and tricks will make it easier to manage your child's oral health as they get older and help you to instill proper hygiene habits that they'll be able to pass on to their own children. 

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