Sometimes teaching your child to take care of their teeth can feel like an Olympic sport! With the summer Olympics underway in Paris, France this month, we gleaned some inspiration from top athletes to help you improve your own game – and your child’s oral health routine. You may not win a medal, but you’ll win knowing you’re setting up your little dental athlete for a lifetime of health.
1. Start early. Just like Olympic athletes, training starts before teeth even show up in your child’s mouth. Before teeth, you’ll want to wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth twice each day. Once teeth show up (around age 6 months), use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently brush teeth twice a day to keep tooth decay away and their mouth healthy for other new teeth coming in.
2. Eat a healthy diet. In order to sprint fast, jump high, and throw far, you need to eat a healthy diet for your body to get stronger and faster. The same goes for teeth. To chew food without pain, speak clearly, and smile with confidence, teeth need crunchy fruits and vegetables to help keep them clean. Round out the healthy diet with lots of water and fewer sugary beverages to keep the plaque off.
3. Brush and floss twice every day. Your child should brush for 2 minutes in the morning, and 2 minutes before bed. You can give them a timer, play their favorite song, or use a brushing app to help them stay on track. Once they have teeth that are touching, have them floss once each day, preferably before bedtime. Use incentives like sticker charts, books, and other rewards to encourage them to keep up their healthy routine.
4. Visit the dentist regularly. Twice each year, your child should see the dentist for cleanings and check-ups. The dentist and team will check your child’s teeth for cavities, areas that need attention, and give them a professional cleaning. These cleanings remove plaque, which can only be done professionally. They’ll also apply fluoride to prevent tooth decay, and x-ray teeth as needed to ensure everything is developing properly. It’s important for your child to start visiting the dentist early so they get used to going and are less likely to develop anxiety towards check-ups.
5. Model healthy habits. None of us are perfect, but if you try to keep a healthy dental routine yourself, your children will notice. All that observation will sink in and remind them how important it is to take care of your oral health. Oh! And don’t forget to get your twice a year dental cleaning to remove plaque and address issues before they develop.
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