Children’s mouths are constantly changing from the moment their first tooth pops through, to all the different arrangements of teeth they have as they lose baby teeth and gain adult teeth throughout their elementary years. Keeping their little mouths clean and free from food and bacteria can be quite the challenge and making regular visits to the dentist is crucial to maintaining a healthy mouth. For a child, a trip to the dentist can be a little less thrilling than getting ice cream on a Saturday afternoon. Some children may be uncomfortable or scared to have an adult look inside their mouths. Preparing your child well with what to expect while teaching excellent oral hygiene habits will get your child off to a great start. Choosing a dentist who has an excellent reputation for being kid-friendly is the best way to show your child that going to the dentist is good, comfortable, and can even be fun.

Teaching children proper oral hygiene

If you want to teach your children good oral hygiene habits, let them follow your example and even watch you brush and floss your teeth every day. If you are diligently brushing your teeth twice a day and also flossing your teeth daily to remove any cavity-causing food stuck between your teeth, your child will get the message that these habits are important.

Talk to your child about the importance of letting the bristles of their toothbrush go over the same tooth multiple times before moving on to a new section in their mouth. Staying by your child while they are brushing their teeth can be helpful while you give commands on which section of their mouth to clean. For example, set a 30-second timer and tell your child to brush their back, and left teeth until the timer goes off. Then move on to the bottom right, top right, and so on, resetting the timer for each section.

Showing your child how to wash out their mouths and spit out the toothpaste is also a valuable, and sometimes surprisingly difficult, skill to teach.

Always be sure to regularly look in your child’s mouth to inspect their teeth, especially once they start brushing their teeth with less supervision. You can help them to identify spots that they may routinely miss as brushing becomes more habitual.

Of course, a huge part of teaching your child good habits when it comes to oral health is regular trips to the dentist. The best dentist for kids will:

• Talk to your child with a comforting, positive tone and will explain what they are about to do before they pick up any scary-looking equipment.
• The staff at the dental office should also have energy full of positivity and friendliness.
• It may be a small thing, but having something in the waiting room that will entertain your child while you wait for the appointment will also be helpful. Something like:
  • Cartoons on the TV
  • A fish tank
  • Games to play
  • Kid-friendly magazines

For the best, friendliest dentist for children in St. Augustine, FL, give Dental Remedies a call to set up your child’s dental appointment, and even one for yourself!