Excellent brushing and flossing habits are crucial to good oral hygiene and for positive trips to your child's pediatric dentist at Huntington Hills Family Dentistry in Roanoke, VA. Unfortunately, however, getting your children to fully adopt these habits can be a bit of a struggle at times. Do your children resist brushing and flossing their teeth? Here are four tips that will help.
1. Get in the Routine Early
If your children always brush and floss their teeth right before bed, and they have for as long as they can remember, brushing and flossing will simply become an unquestioned part of their daily routine. Don't get in the habit of skipping this routine when you are too tired, only to make your children brush extra right before their visit to their Roanoke, VA pediatric dentist. Keep the same routine every day without fail.
2. Make Independent Brushing a Privilege
As your children hit the toddler and preschooler age, they will naturally want to start doing more things by themselves. Take advantage of this! Let them brush and floss themselves (under your supervision) with the qualification that they must do a thorough job. By the time the novelty wears off, they will already be in the habit.
3. Let Them Choose
Brushing and flossing is more fun when you get to choose your own tools. Take your children to the store to let them pick out their favorite character toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Highlighting these characters can really work to your advantage.
4. Make it a Game
Just because brushing is routine does not mean it has to be boring. Teach your children about germs and have them play the good guy and the bad guy to get rid of them. You can also sing songs or make up silly dances as well--whatever keeps your kids' interest.
A lifetime of good oral hygiene doesn't begin with a visit to your child's pediatric dentist at Huntington Hills Family Dentistry in Roanoke, VA. It begins with the habits you start right in your own bathroom. These four tips will help you create good ones.