{"id":1208,"date":"2022-06-16T00:27:46","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T00:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/a-parents-guide-to-teaching-dental-habits\/"},"modified":"2022-06-16T00:27:46","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T00:27:46","slug":"a-parents-guide-to-teaching-dental-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/a-parents-guide-to-teaching-dental-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Dental Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"

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PARENTING CAN BE<\/b> such a wild time that you might struggle to find a moment to brush your own teeth, let alone brush theirs and teach them how to do it themselves. We have a few tips we hope will make this process a little smoother for your family.<\/p>\n

Prioritize the Health of Baby Teeth<\/h3>\n

Temporary doesn\u2019t mean unimportant. Just because your child\u2019s baby teeth will be replaced with permanent teeth, it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s fine if they end up full of cavities. They need their baby teeth to chew their food, pronounce their words, and smile.<\/strong> Baby teeth are also placeholders for adult teeth. To protect them, aim for twice-daily brushing and daily flossing of any teeth that touch each other.<\/p>\n

Begin Building Life-Long Habits Early<\/h3>\n

It isn\u2019t always easy to teach a young child important life skills. They have boundless energy and short attention spans, so a session of sitting still with a toothbrush isn\u2019t always going to go as planned. Following these tips might help as you\u2019re trying to impart these essential skills:<\/p>\n

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  • Show them that brushing is a priority<\/strong>. If brushing your child\u2019s teeth comes across to them as an inconvenient chore, they\u2019ll see dental hygiene as an inconvenience. Frame it as something easy but unskippable \u2014 a part of every morning and evening.<\/li>\n
  • Feel free to take brushing outside of the bathroom.<\/strong> All you need is a toothbrush to brush your child\u2019s teeth wherever it\u2019s easiest. It could save a lot of frustration.<\/li>\n
  • Using toothpaste isn\u2019t as important as using a toothbrush.<\/strong> If your child practiced their finger-painting skills with the entire toothpaste tube, simply brush without it until you can get more.<\/li>\n
  • Let your child choose their own toothbrush.<\/strong> This will help them feel more ownership over the process and make it more exciting.<\/li>\n
  • When possible, brush in front of the mirror so they can watch how the process works<\/strong>. It will also help them feel more involved.<\/li>\n
  • Make brushing fun!<\/strong> They\u2019ll be happier to cooperate if you treat it like a game. Maintain a cheerful attitude and play fun music in time with their two minutes of brushing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n