Being a parent means we often face many challenges when it comes to our children. It can start from as young as them being a few months old. When they decide that sleep is for wimps. Fast forward to the weaning stage and you find that you have a child that doesn’t like anything remotely healthy. Roll on toddlerhood and the tantrums and threenager attitude starts. It’s a long battle through the school years to get homework done and encourage activities other than playing a computer game. Then let’s not forget the late teens, university days and the worry they will cause even as adults. It’s never ending, but of course, it’s a journey we all love to be on.
One of the huge battles parents can face with young and older children is good dental hygiene. What is it about younger children not wanting to brush their teeth? It’s crazy! However, I’m sure when we were their age we were just as defiant. So how do you encourage good dental practices? How do you make sure that those teeth are protected so that there are no major problems in the future? With those questions whirling around many parents’ heads I thought I should share with you some tips and advice. Hopefully, this will encourage the whole family to take good care of their teeth. The younger you try and incorporate some of this advice, the better their dental health will be.
Set a good example
We know that children tend to lead by example. This is why they are bound to pick up on that one time you say a bad word, or catch you eating that chocolate bar just before dinner. So while they are so good at picking up the bad habits, they can also follow your example on the good stuff as well. Cleaning teeth is one of those thing children just don’t want to do. They tend to avoid this part of the morning and bedtime routine. Why? We will never truly know the answer to that. What we can do is to try and set a good example when it comes to cleaning and brushing those teeth. One way you can do that is to brush your teeth together. Showing your child just how easy it is to brush their teeth. This encourages them to take part themselves. This is a great way of teaching them brushing techniques. It’s also proven that many children like to be praised and encouraged. Giving them the opportunity to hear or see praise from you should be enough to encourage them to keep doing it.
Look at the family diet
We all know dental hygiene and care isn’t just about how you brush your teeth, it’s also to do with what you can put your teeth and mouth through daily. By that, I mean in the way of your diet. While we all deserve sweet treats every now and again, too many things like sweets and chocolate can cause cavities in the teeth. Too much sugar in your diet will cause teeth enamel to become under attack. Especially for younger children who are not brushing their teeth as often or thoroughly as they should be. Statistics show that tooth decay within children is rising. So much so that a record number of children are having teeth extracted from as young as four. Try and make sure you reduce the amount of treats or sugary foods you eat and look at your overall diet. If they do indulge in something sweet, then make sure they give their teeth a good brush at the earliest chance to avoid sugar sitting on the tooth enamel.
Increase the amount of water you all drink
Another reason why children are having increasing problems with their teeth is down to the drinks they consume. A lot of the time some children will drink fruit juice instead of water. Some will even drink fizzy drinks that are laden with sugar. Again sometimes these types of drinks are nice as a treat but instead, try and encourage your children to drink more water. Water is the best substance for a child to drink, not only does it have many health benefits but it also keeps your children hydrated.
Water also cleanses your mouth after you have consumed food. While sugary or fizzy drinks may taste great, they can often leave a layer of sugar on your teeth. This kind of bacteria is proven to produce cavities over time. Water will swirl your mouth with every sip, ensuring that nothing is left on your teeth from the food you eat. It also helps fight against your mouth drying up. Saliva is one of the biggest fighters against tooth decay. If your saliva in your mouth dries up, then it can cause problems for bacteria building up in your mouth. Water ensures that your mouth stays hydrated and able to produce saliva consistently. So not only is it better for your children, but it has some fantastic uses to help build up excellent dental hygiene.
Visit the dentist for regular check ups
Another problem parents face with their family and children is booking regular visits to the dentist. Some children can develop a fear of the dentist. For any, this is the fear of the unknown. Being in a different environment and close to people they are not familiar with. However, getting regular check ups should alleviate the fear after a few occasions. You just need to be consistent. Some parents struggle with booking appointments because of the initial cost. Fearing that these appointments will cost too much money. This is where dental insurance and plans can help spread the cost of good dental care. This isn’t just for you, but the whole family. Dentists can offer amazing affordable dental plans and offer great options for everyone. Having plans in place means you can book in those regular appointments. Even syncing the dates and times to avoid multiple visits. It’s a great way to get more organized.
What regular dental visits will do is highlight any problems brewing, or reaffirm that what you are doing is right. Sometimes, being aware of problems can create solutions quicker. Rather than having to consider worst case options if left too long.
Make brushing fun
While we know as parents that brushing your teeth is essential to good dental care, your children may not share the same view. They can see brushing their teeth like a bit of a chore. It’s something that takes too much time and effort. So a great tip is to make this part of the routine a little more fun for your child. Making the teeth brushing process more engaging to their mind and imagination. Tablets and smartphones are an excellent aid to this. There are many applications you can download now. They tend to cover the two minutes recommended brushing time, while showing something fun and imaginative to your child. Popular characters from Disney and other cartoons can all feature. So you are bound to find something that will ignite the interests of your child.
Younger children may not be able to concentrate too much on a tablet. This is where you as the parent need to get a little creative. Some parents recommend making up a little song that you sing while brushing your teeth. It could be funny, sweet, fast, or slow. Whatever you think will spark up an interest within your child.
Let’s hope these tips help you when it comes to improving good dental health for the whole family.