As a parent of a young child, you do have a lot of responsibilities to juggle. Remembering to take your child to the dentist regularly can be a challenge, but it is important not to overlook this important aspect of parenting. When you’re responsible for a whole family, there are a million things you have to do. From rent or a mortgage to getting food on the table several times a day, oral hygiene might be one of the last things you think about. It’s still important, however, and there are key tips you can use to keep up with your family’s oral hygiene. Here are five reasons to prioritize caring for your child’s oral health.
Set an Example
Someone in the home needs to be the gold standard everyone else lives up to. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss and rinse on a daily basis. Depending on how young your kids are, you might even want to make brushing teeth a family activity everyone does together. If they’re still so young that you need to supervise, then you might as well go ahead and brush your teeth at the same time as them.
Point Out People They Admire
If your kids admire certain people, be it celebrities, teachers, artists, or athletes, you might want to point out how pretty their smiles are. That can motivate them to brush regularly so they are more like the people that inspire them in their lives.
Find the Right Dentist
You might have one or more people in the family that hate going to the dentist. This can be even more true for serious dental visits, such as getting wisdom teeth pulled. If necessary, find an iv sedation dentist who can completely knock out their patients and do the work while they are painlessly unconscious.
Set Automated Reminders
Scheduling your family appointments with the dentist might not be that big of a deal, but you should also set some kind of automated reminder about when it’s time for everyone to switch to new toothbrushes.
Eat and Drink Healthy
It’s probably unrealistic to think that your family would ever give up soda and foods with lots of sugar in them completely. However, you can balance things out. Find a spot in your kitchen for a machine that carbonates water to make your own soda that’s cheaper and easier on teeth. Have everyone snack on fruits and veggies as much as they do candy and chips.
Oral Hygiene Matters
Every generation of your family deserves and needs great oral hygiene. It’s not just about keeping healthy smiles for family portraits. Healthy gums and teeth prevent a lot of diseases from happening, too.
The Risk of Childhood Tooth Decay is Higher Than You Think
Tooth decay is not a rare problem in children. Almost a quarter of five-year-olds in England have obvious signs of tooth decay. In deprived areas, children have more than twice as much decay as kids from more affluent areas. The good news is that dentists can successfully treat tooth decay if your child has regular checkups.
Establishing Good Habits Early Sets Your Child Up For Life
The earlier you establish good brushing and flossing habits, the more likely your child is to carry those good habits into adulthood. As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, you can brush it with a soft baby toothbrush and children’s toothpaste to keep it clean. Start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as they have two teeth that touch. Continue to supervise brushing until your child is able to brush their own teeth with confidence.
Children With Healthy Teeth Have Fewer Dental Fears
Many adults who have dental phobia say that their fears started after having to undergo complex dentistry treatments when they were children. Preventative dental services, such as regular professional cleanings, are minimally invasive. Kids who associate going to the dentist with getting their teeth cleaned are less likely to fear dentists as an adult.
Tooth Decay Can Disrupt Children’s Education
Children who have to get a tooth extracted in the hospital miss on average three days of school as a result of dental problems. The pain of toothache can prevent children from concentrating on their schoolwork and even keep them awake at night. To avoid disrupting your child’s education, be sure to take them to the dentist for regular checkups, and always get a child’s toothache checked out as soon as you can.
Healthy Oral Habits Create Healthy Children
Many of the lifestyle changes that protect children’s teeth also protect their overall health. Cutting down on your child’s consumption of sugary drinks, sugary foods, and fruit juice can help them to avoid becoming obese and unhealthy. Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, whole fruits, and healthy sources of protein and fat.