{"id":2319,"date":"2021-09-19T11:00:11","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T11:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dental.dev\/2thdoc\/8-creative-ways-to-improve-your-familys-oral-care-habits\/"},"modified":"2021-10-20T19:56:25","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T19:56:25","slug":"8-creative-ways-to-improve-your-familys-oral-care-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2thdoc.org\/8-creative-ways-to-improve-your-familys-oral-care-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Creative Ways to Improve Your Family\u2019s Oral Care Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"
Every parent knows that a surefire trick to getting through mundane tasks with kids is to find a way to make it fun! This also applies to oral care and visits to the dentist.<\/p>\n
Early dental care<\/a> habits, like twice-daily brushing, visiting a dentist regularly, and eating smile-friendly foods, carry on throughout a child\u2019s life. The sooner you start instilling healthy smile habits, the higher the chance your kids will continue prioritizing their oral health.<\/p>\n Here are 8 creative and fun ways to get your family excited about their oral care.<\/p>\n Toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months and after anyone has been ill. During your next shopping trip, let your kids pick out a fun new toothbrush and a new flavor of ADA-approved toothpaste.<\/p>\n A useful trick to get youngsters interested in brushing is to rotate between a few different toothbrushes or toothpastes. Providing multiple options often encourages even the most stubborn kid to get involved.<\/p>\n If you have a backyard or a small balcony, your family<\/a> can grow a few smile-friendly foods right at home. Using the container method of gardening<\/a>, you can grow tomatoes, lettuces, beans, sweet peppers, and beets. You can even grow dwarf lettuces or fresh herbs indoors using flower pots or a small hydroponics kit.<\/p>\n Growing vegetables at home is a rewarding family bonding process, and it gives you a chance to teach your kids about the importance of eating healthy, fresh food.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, including a sweet food item in the main meal can be less damaging to oral health than a quick sugary mid-day snack.<\/p>\n When a starchy or sweet food item<\/a> is eaten as part of a main meal, less of the sugar or starch is left on the surface of the teeth. Saving the sweet treat as dessert right after dinner also reduces the time any sugar is left on tooth enamel since you\u2019ll soon be brushing before bed.<\/p>\n The right dentist can totally change the way you and your kids view appointments. Look for a family dentist<\/a> who genuinely enjoys working with kids and schedule a Happy Visit so your kids can be introduced before a major appointment.<\/p>\n The Tooth Doc is a dental home for families with kids of all ages, right here in Omaha. We recommend parents maintain regular six-month checkups for the kids, starting by their first birthday at the latest. If your child is younger but already has a tooth, now is the perfect time for their first introduction to dental appointments<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kids all develop at different rates, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents continue to help their kids brush their teeth up until their seventh or eighth birthday. Even if your child is showing independence earlier than this, it\u2019s recommended to supervise and do a final once-over of their teeth after they\u2019re done brushing on their own.<\/p>\n If your child is fussy about wanting to do it themselves, allowing them to brush your teeth first can help.<\/p>\n Brushing for a full two minutes is really important for healthy teeth and cavity prevention. However, even adults can underestimate their brushing time unless they use a timer. Sand timers are fun, but if they no longer capture your child\u2019s interest, try music instead!<\/p>\n1. Replace old toothbrushes and toothpaste with something new.<\/h2>\n
2. Create a small container garden of tasty smile-friendly foods.<\/h2>\n
3. Limit starchy or sweet foods to meal times rather than snacks.<\/h2>\n
4. Find a family-friendly dentist and start visiting by age one.<\/h2>\n
5. Help youngsters with brushing and flossing until age seven or eight.<\/h2>\n
6. Time two-minute brushings with a song or guided video.<\/h2>\n