Tips for Brushing
St. Helens, OR
 If you think your life is hard, try being a child for a day. In addition to adjusting to school, activities, and family time, they are learning how to take care of themselves and others in new ways every other day.
One of the necessary life skills that every kid needs to learn is how to brush their teeth the proper way. Helping your child get in the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day is no easy task, but a little creativity and adventure can go a long way when it comes to his or her long-term dental health. If you need to brush up on the basics of cleaning your child’s teeth, St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry has you covered. Our specialized pediatric guidelines can help you gauge the right ways of helping your children brush their teeth properly and regularly.
The Importance of Regular Brushing
When the time comes for the tooth fairy to collect baby teeth, plenty of brushing will be necessary. Young ones tend to eat more sugary food and that can cause cavities, which are expensive to fill, whether they happen in baby or adult teeth. The worst part is, these cavities can have a lasting impact on your child’s teeth if not treated.
If the areas of tooth growth are not taken care of with proper hygiene, it can adversely affect the growth of adult teeth, possibly even dispositioning them. Improper positioning of teeth will definitely require braces to fix the alignment. If there is anything a parent can do to avoid cavities and dispositioning, it is to keep a check on dental hygiene of your child from the very beginning.
Start a Routine and Stick to it
You may be tempted to let your child skip brushing after a long, tiring day or during times when your normal schedule is off, but try to keep at it. The more brushing becomes second nature, the easier it will be to ensure your child is brushing twice a day for two whole minutes.
Give your Kids a Choice
Give your child a choice, allow them to select their own toothbrush when it is time to buy a new brush. This allows them to anticipate a new one every three to four months. Both manual and electric toothbrushes can be quite effective in removing dental plaque. For children below six years of age, parents should help as it is difficult for the child to clean thoroughly. Electric toothbrushes usually come with built-in timers and speakers that encourage children to continue brushing their teeth properly throughout the time limit, while the audible interaction keeps them engrossed, making tooth brushing a pleasurable experience.
Being Role Models
Toddlers like to imitate what their parents are doing. This is a good opportunity for parents to teach their child on how to clean their teeth properly. Parents can also help their kids in brushing and occasionally flossing their teeth thoroughly to remove any food residue, especially the hard-to-clean areas. Brushing teeth daily, especially after meals, promotes healthier teeth from a very young age.
Some Competition
Occasionally friendly competitiveness can trigger a lifetime practice of tooth brushing. Encourage your children to brush together and time them to see who cleans their teeth more thoroughly, regardless of who wins, the real winner is dental hygiene.
While teaching your kids flossing and regular brushing, it is also important to make frequent visits to our clinic St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry or call us at (503) 396-4750 to book a quick appointment with our child dental expert. |
