Helping our children develop healthy oral hygiene habits is of the utmost importance if we want them to enjoy strong and attractive smiles into adulthood. Our Toluca Lake family dentists have some helpful tips on how to guide your child as he or she learns about dental health. Let’s get started!
- The number one way to influence your child positively is to live by example. Make your brushing and flossing routine a family/collaborative process; build it into the daily routine of your family! When your child experiences you prioritizing oral hygiene, they are more likely to follow suit.
- With that in mind, consider using the “tell, show, do” method when teaching your children how to care for their smiles. You start by explaining exactly how we clean our smiles, and why we do it. Then, you demonstrate proper technique using your own smile as an example. Finally, it’s time for your child to try all of this out on their own (with your supervision, of course!). We have found that this method helps children feel like true participants in the process.
- There are some special considerations to keep in mind when dealing with pediatric dental care. First of all, children who are young enough to regularly swallow toothpaste should not be using toothpastes with fluoride. When children, with developing permanent teeth, ingest fluoride, they are at risk of suffering from dental fluorosis, which leads adult teeth to have discoloration and textural issues. You also want to make sure that your child is using dental tools, like toothbrushes, that are appropriately sized for them. There are pediatric toothbrushes available that have small brush heads, as well as ergonomic handles.
If you have additional questions about pediatric dentistry, our Toluca Lake dentists are here to help you. Please do not hesitate to give us a call, or to use the Contact Us page on our site to submit a question!