Every parent wants the best for their child.
You want them to grow up happy and healthy.
But instilling healthy habits in your kids is easier said than done!
Dr. Finley and our team at Bayou Dental Group want to be part of your team.
We offer children’s dentistry in our Monroe, LA practice that kids love because we know how important it is to create positive impressions early.
It helps them become adults who have healthy attitudes about the dentist office and confidence about maintaining routine dental appointments for the rest of their lives!
Teach Your Kids That Oral Hygiene Is Fun!
Teaching kids about good oral hygiene isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
It takes a lot of patience and a willingness to adapt when certain strategies turn out to be less helpful than you thought they’d be.
Our team at Bayou Dental Group hopes to take some of the guesswork out of instilling good dental habits in your children.
Here are some helpful suggestions for making oral hygiene more fun for your little ones!
*Make Oral Hygiene A Family Affair*
When mom and dad are part of the morning and nighttime oral hygiene routine, kids won’t just enjoy it.
They’ll actually look forward to it!
Every child loves spending time with their parents. Why not take advantage of the fact that they haven’t realized how uncool you are?!
Kidding aside, your kids will be more willing participants in most anything if they know mom and dad will be brushing and flossing right alongside them!
*Motivate Them With Music*
Since the American Dental Association recommends that you brush for two minutes twice a day, we often recommend using some sort of timer.
For kids, though, you may want to try a more exciting motivator.
How about music?
Playing one of their favorite songs is a great way to make brushing and flossing more fun. It can also help them get a sense of what two minutes of brushing feels like.
When their older, they might invest in an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer.
But for now, there’s no better way to teach them proper timing and technique than with a fun, upbeat song!
*Create Positive Associations With Their Oral Care Routine*
This one can be a little tricky.
At first, kids may try to resist the nightly brushing ritual because they know good and well what’s coming next.
Bedtime.
If you’re fortunate enough to have kids who don’t fight bedtime with every ounce of their being, we want to know your secret!
In all seriousness, though, we know that one of the challenges of turning oral care at home into a habit is tough, particularly when kids equate brushing their teeth to the dreaded bedtime.
Our advice would be to create a positive association between brushing their teeth at night and something else they enjoy, like a bedtime story.
If they know that after brushing their teeth they’ll get to snuggle up with mom or dad with a storybook, they’ll be more likely to maintain the nighttime portion of their oral hygiene routine without making a fuss.
Schedule An Appointment
By making oral hygiene a priority, you’re modeling for your kids the value of responsibility and good health. You’re showing them how important it is to take good care of their teeth, which is a great lesson.
Equally important is how you help shape their perceptions of professional dental care. When you bring them to Bayou Dental Group at an early age, they’ll feel more confident about routine dental appointments as they grow into adults.
Start them off on the right foot with an appointment to our Monroe, LA dental office now!
You can schedule a visit by calling 318-323-9303 or by filling out our online form.