When you are growing up, you need some help from your parents or caregivers to help you form good dental hygiene practices. There are ways that you as a parent can help your children learn these habits so they continue them into adulthood and have healthy teeth and gums!
One good dental hygiene tip is to watch the sugary drinks. While fruit juices can be good, sodas have a lot of artificial sugars and ingredients that are bad for your teeth. The sugar that is found in soda can eat away at the enamel on your kids’ teeth which is catastrophic for their future dental health. Of course these drinks taste good and your kid will want to have some, but it is best to moderate. You may initiate a process in which your children balance their beverage intake, say 50/50 juice and water versus soda. Make sure your kid is drinking plenty of water, not just for hydration but for the fact that it will wash out some of the sugar residue that is left over by sugary drinks like soda. And of course, there are so many benefits to drinking water in general.
Another helpful tip is to make sure you as their parent are setting a good example for dental hygiene. Your kids will be taking cues from you on a lot of things, and dental hygiene is certainly one of them. You could even make brushing and flossing a family activity, especially if you have little kids. You, your partner, and children can all take some time out of the day each morning and night to engage in a good brushing and flossing routine. This will make sure that you can monitor your child’s tooth brushing and ensure that they will not cut any corners. Remember that brushing should last for at least two minutes. Teach them that singing the ABCs in their head twice is just about the right amount of time.
Also, flossing should entail each tooth every time you do it. Of course, there will be times you want to skimp but you should try hard to commit to your dental hygiene plan, especially when you are modeling dental behavior for your children. You can make games, listen to music or really do whatever to hype up the family brushing and flossing time.
Also do not skip dentist visits. This obviously extends to you as an adult, but especially to your children. You want to model the right dental behavior for your children, and this includes bucking up and going to the dentist. This highlights why you will want to choose a dental practice that entails a good experience for you and your family.
If you are looking for cosmetic dentistry in New Jersey, or family dentistry in New Jersey, there’s no expert better than Dr. Bruce Freund. With a wide experience in cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Bruce Freund can give you the dental expertise and perfection you are seeking. Visit our Englewood Cliffs offices today.
