Helping Your Kids Keep Up With Their Oral Hygiene

The number one childhood illness in America is dental cavities. Because of this scary statistic, it’s important for your children to keep up a good oral hygiene routine and to understand the importance of keeping their teeth healthy. Setting a routine and helping them remember to follow through is great, but the best way to help your children maintain their dental health is through example.

Setting a Good Dental Health Example

Below are a few tips on how to show your children why dental health is important and how to keep their smile healthy and beautiful:

• Create a family dental routine – Set a family dental routine, and make sure everyone is on board. Make sure to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once a day. You can also make this a family activity, so that your children can watch you care for your teeth and learn from your example.
• Discuss your dental mistakes – Talk with your children about any dental problems you may have had in the past and how these problems could have been avoided. Let them know that cavities can be painful and that the treatment procedures are rarely fun. Allow your kids to learn from your mistakes.
• Change the way you eat – As a family, try to improve your diet together and eat healthier. Sugar is a huge cause of dental cavities and tooth decay, so not only will you be improving your overall health, but your dental health as well. Create a family meal plan together and stick to it.

Good oral hygiene habits start in childhood. Here at Auburn Family Dental, it’s important to us that you and your family have clean, healthy, and beautiful smiles. To make an appointment, please contact our Wichita, Kansas family dental office.