Start Early

The earlier you get your children used to oral care, the more readily they’ll accept this habit. You can begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they have teeth. Prior to this, wiping their mouth with a clean cloth will suffice. And you can begin flossing as soon as your child has two teeth that touch. These habits will get your little one used to care before they’re able to do it themselves!

Have them Teach a Sibling

Many kids love teaching other kids how to do things. After your oldest has learned how to properly brush their teeth, have them show their little brother or sister. This will encourage them both to brush their teeth, floss, and show their healthy smiles to mom and dad before school or bedtime!

Make Brushing Time Fun

If your child is resistant to brushing, you have lots of options for making this time more creative and fun. Here’s how you can teach your child that brushing doesn’t have to feel boring or unnecessary!

 Listen to a two-minute song. Encouraging kids to brush for at least two minutes can feel like an eternity, depending on how young your child is. To make the time go by, listen to a favorite song that’s about two minutes and brush together the entire time!

 Use a reward system. In the event that brushing is a really trying time in your house, try a reward system. Create a chart and give your kids stickers or tokens every time they brush their teeth and floss. When the tokens add up, they get a prize!

 Consider apps to track progress. There are many apps that can help your kids see just how well they’re doing with their oral care. There are even toothbrushes that you can sync with your phone that shows you where you’re missing spots!

Be Familiar with the Family Dentist

Trust your kids to brush well, but always check their progress. An important part of doing this is through regular checkups with your family dentist. The earlier your kids see the dentist, the more comfortable they’ll be when they go for checkups. They’ll learn the dentist is friendly and fun, not scary and painful. Your dentist can also assess your child’s oral health and tell you what needs to improve as well as what he or she is doing well.

Teaching your kids about how important oral health is can feel like a long process. Start early to help ease the transition into self care. Have them teach their little brother or sister how to brush their teeth. Make brushing time fun when things get tough and as always, visit your dentist to ensure your child’s smile is as healthy as possible!

The post How to Promote Healthy Dental Habits for Your Children appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

One common mistake people make is using a brush that isn’t the right size for their mouth. Your toothbrush should fit into your mouth comfortably without requiring you to make an effort to open your mouth exceptionally wide. The bristles should on the softer side: Bristles that are too stiff can hurt your gums.

When you brush, you should keep it up for two minutes. One method to make the time go faster is to count for 30 second while brushing each of four sections of your mouth. You might also try watching TV while brushing, but don’t brush for more than two minutes or you could do damage to your teeth and gums.

One of the hardest habits for many adults to break is brushing from side to side. The toothbrush should move up and down on your teeth, because side-to-side brushing can scrape the gums.

You should buy a new toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, and always be sure to rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after every use and store it upright. Don’t cover your toothbrush, except for brief times if necessary to pack in a suitcase. Toothbrushes should be allowed to air dry.

Your toothpaste matters, too! Whitening toothpastes used every time you brush can be harsh for your teeth. If you want to use whitening toothpaste, alternate between it and regular fluoride toothpaste.

Contrary to what you might think, it’s not a good idea to brush right after eating, especially if you eat sugary foods like candy, or drink diet soda, coffee, or tea. Right after eating, your tooth enamel is weakened by acids in the foods. If you brush right away, the brushing will weaken the enamel further. Wait about half an hour, to give your saliva time to naturally wash away the acids and strengthen the enamel.

As for how often you should brush: Twice a day is enough, but three times a day is better. And always floss after brushing, to get rid of food particles between teeth that no brush can reach.

Changing your habits requires minimal effort, and it can make all the difference for the health of your teeth! For additional information and tips, speak with your dentist. Happy smiles!

The post Common Mistakes When Brushing Your Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.