Never too early to teach your children good dental hygiene habits

As we know, children don't often take immediately to brushing their teeth, and teaching new habits with them can take time, so parents can give their children a great start toward a lifetime of dental health by teaching them good oral care habits early. Instilling good habits with toddlers and young children can be an uphill battle at times, but teaching the importance of having healthy, clean teeth and making regular dental care fun can make the process easier. 

Parents - Make Brushing Fun!

Many children are averse to brushing their teeth because it is one of the last things they do before bedtime. Prolonging brushing means staying up a few precious minutes more, and probably means hearing more excuses as to why your children don't want to brush. Instead, have your kids brush immediately after dinner, before they can watch television or play with friends. Make it an earlier routine so you save the hassle and aversion later on.

South Riding dentists recommend brushing for at least two to three minutes, the same length of time as many songs. Put on your child's favorite song and tell him to keep brushing until the music stops. Brush with your child at the same time to reinforce the fun element and perhaps take turns choosing songs as well.

Pick up a few disclosing pills from your dentist or pharmacy. The little red pills, when chewed, reveal all the plaque and bacteria left in the mouth. Have a family contest to see who can make their teeth the cleanest, using the pills to declare a winner. 

Something Different: Conduct an Eggsperiment 

Show your child a raw, whole egg. Explain that the hard shell protects the soft inside and keeps it safe, clean and healthy. Next, discuss how the teeth are like eggs-- the exterior hard enamel protects the interior soft dentin the same way the egg shell protects the yolk. 

To show your child what happens when the teeth are not brushed, place the egg in a jar of vinegar. In a few days, the hard outer shell turns soft before being eaten away by the vinegar. Explain that without good dental hygiene, acid builds up on the teeth and has a similar, albeit slower, effect.

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