Oral Health Habits to Teach Your Kids Now

by Kevin Smith Author

Part of the process of making sure your children have the best possible dental health is taking advantage of general dentistry services in Sugarland, TX. Another part is making sure your children practice good dental hygiene. Here are the basics that every child should do until they become lifelong habits.

Regular Visits to the Dentist

The earliest you get your kids in a routine of regular checkups and teeth cleaning the better your chances of turning that into a lifelong habit. By making regular visits to the dentist, you “de-mystify” dentistry in general, which can help kids get over dental-phobias their parents possessed.

Drink Fluoridated Water

Fluoridated water is common in most municipal water systems, which makes dosing children easy. In some areas, however, that is not an option. If your water does not contain fluoride, take fluoride supplements. Fluoride is proven to help build strong teeth and fight cavities.

Eat Healthily

Every child would have candy for breakfast, cookies for lunch and ice cream for dinner. The one way to break them of the impulse to eat sugary stuff is to instill in them healthy eating habits early. Avoid sugary treats for the most part and help them learn the principles of moderation.

Brush Regularly and Sensibly

Oversee your children’s brushing until they have learned the proper way and frequency to brush. Set a schedule for them if possible so that they can get in the habit of brushing regularly without skipping. You also need to teach them not to overbrush or to brush too hard.

Floss Regularly

The same applies to routine flossing. Get your kids accustomed to setting aside the time to floss as part of their regular dental hygiene. Start them before they get their adult teeth as setting that habit early is the only way to make it permanent.

Use Fluoridated Toothpaste

This is not necessary if you have fluoridated water, but it is still a good habit to teach your kids. If they become accustomed to a particular brand of toothpaste, they will likely use it well into adulthood. If that toothpaste is fluoridated, they will be guaranteed to get a healthy dose of fluoride at least once a day.

It's great that you take advantage of general dentistry services in Sugarland, TX, but you also need to teach your kids healthy oral hygiene. Use these tips to get them started on a lifelong process of taking care of their teeth, gums, and mouth.