Your children always bring a smile to your face – they’re creative, funny, and smarter than you could have ever imagined they’d be. They always surprise you and make you grin, and when you do, you think about taking care of their teeth so their pearly whites will beam for a lifetime. But are you teaching your kids to brush correctly? Is there anything you’re missing in their oral hygiene routine? In this post, the team at Indy Dental Group, your premier family dentist in Carmel, explains the best ways to brush for kids.
How Should I Teach My Children To Brush Their Teeth?
There are several great ways to teach your kids to brush their teeth. As your expert dentist in Carmel, we recommend the strategies in the list below to help your children to prioritize their oral health while they’re young and to maintain this habit their entire lives.
#1 – Make It Fun
Kids need things to be engaging to make them stick, so watch cartoons about brushing your teeth, let them pick out a toothbrush they like, and feel free to use any flavor of toothpaste your child prefers as long as it contains fluoride. You can also encourage your child to play dentist and to brush the teeth on a doll or stuffed animal to give them a chance to practice their technique. And, to be sure you’re teaching them the right way to brush, watch this quick video to brush up on your own skills.
#2 – Brush With Them
As parents you know that your children emulate you and model your behavior, so brush right alongside your kids to show them how it’s done. You’ll be able to keep an eye on their approach and to make sure they spit out toothpaste instead of swallowing it. You’ll also be able to help younger children floss and make sure everyone brushes for two minutes twice a day – play a fun song on your phone or set a timer to stay on target with time.
#3 – Full Disclosure
When you see the team at Indy Dental Group, we can use disclosing tablets to show your children where plaque is hiding right before their very own young eyes. These safe colored tablets work by mixing with saliva when your child chews – after about 30 seconds, they’ll spit out the tablets and see where plaque is lurking. This is the best way to show kids how important it is to brush along the gum line and to take special care of their back teeth.
Now that you now some of the best ways teach your child to brush correctly, schedule your appointment with Indy Dental Group to give your child a one-on-one lesson with their friendly family dentist in Carmel!