Getting your child to understand the importance of dental health is not easy, but it is absolutely necessary to instill an oral hygiene routine in your child because this may lead to a lifetime of great dental health.
Brushing and flossing daily should be a priority and parents must demonstrate the importance of these habits. These should be at the top of the habit list because they can help remove dental plaque, which is a bacterial film that builds up on teeth and can cause diseases like tooth decay and gum disease. You will have to perform these tasks for them early on; however, as they get older, you can start teaching them how to do it on their own. It’s always good to remember that children copy their parents, so it’s best to teach by example. When they see you brush and floss daily, they may naturally want to do it, too, and can see that it is part of their family’s daily routine. This is why it is so important for parents to be serious about their oral hygiene because it can make it easier for their kids to learn and join in on the routine.
Establishing healthy eating habits is equally as important because some foods are great for teeth, while others are damaging. Sugar is a serious problem and can lead to a number of dental problems, so be mindful of your child’s sugar consumption and monitor their intake. Sugar leads to oral bacteria and disease and is extremely harmful to teeth and gums, so it’s best to avoid it whenever possible. Minimize sugar and other processed foods and limit them when it comes to your child’s diet because this may help them maintain their dental health. Incorporate whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet instead because these foods are beneficial to their teeth and overall health. Children are always going to want snacks and providing them with the right foods and instilling good eating habits at an early age can boost both their dental health and general health as well.
Another step you can take is to get your child to wear a protective mouthguard if they play contact sports. You may think this is extreme but it is very important and can make a big difference because mouthguards offer protection and can prevent damage to their teeth. Contact sports often cause dental injuries, which can be expensive to fix and what’s worse is that the damage can affect them for the rest of their lives. This can be avoided with the use of a mouthguard, so get your child into the habit of wearing one.
If you need a family dentist in the Sarnia area, Slipacoff Dental can help. We will provide you with more tips so that you can instill good oral hygiene habits in your child, and together, we can help them achieve a lifetime of great dental health!