At Shifnal Dental Care, you can bring your children for children’s day and we promise you a fun day in a relaxed environment to introduce and lay down the foundations for a stress-free future for your child’s dental care (we are renowned for our balloon making skills!).
Forming good dental hygiene habits are important from a young age but this is not always easy to achieve. There are lots of ways to ensure that your child brushes their teeth regularly, and to set them up with these habits so that they last well into adulthood.
Let Them Practise
When you are teaching your child good oral hygiene, and how to brush their teeth, you could let them practice on others – be it yourself, a doll or a cuddly toy. This way they will see that you’re not scared of having someone brush their teeth, and they shouldn’t be either. This way also makes it more fun and they can see that it is an activity that everyone does every day.
Set A Good Example
You can also set a good example by letting your children watch you complete your brushing and flossing routine. Children will often look to their parents in admiration, and if they see that you are brushing your teeth regularly and for a set amount of time, they are likely to want to do this too. You should make a point of feeling happy with your result at the end, and showing them your lovely smile!
Reward Excellent Brushing!
Children love to be rewarded and are likely to have a higher desire for brushing effectively if they are getting something in return. Why not have a reward chart and reward with stickers you know your child will love. Mark successful cleaning on a sticker chart and after a successful month, you could recognise their achievement with an even bigger reward, like extra pocket money or a new toy.
Make It Fun
Turning teeth brushing into a game will likely make it more appealing to your child, and they are more likely to want to take part. To encourage longer brushing, you could use a timer to make it a race to see who can brush for the longest, you will need to be careful they don’t brush too hard and damage their gums!
Tooth Brushing at Home
You should start brushing your child’s teeth from when the first milk tooth breaks through. It is a common misconception that your child doesn’t need to start brushing until they have a full mouth of teeth, but this is not the case!
You may think, ‘well, my child’s milk teeth are going to fall out anyway, so who cares!’ It is so important to brush your child’s teeth from day one, as these teeth pave the way for adult teeth, as well as having a possible negative effect on development when it comes to chewing and speaking if your child is in pain with tooth decay.
It’s important to use a fluoride toothpaste to control tooth decay. Toothpaste made especially for children can be fun but often they don’t have enough fluoride in them to prevent tooth decay. Children from the age of 7 can use family toothpaste, as long as it contains the right amount of fluoride. Ask us at Shifnal Dental Care to find out what is best!
Taking Your Child to The Dentist
Your child should be taken to the dentist from when their first milk teeth appear. This way they will become familiar with going to the dentist from a young age, and allowing the dentist to open up your child’s mouth to take a look is useful for future dental appointments.
If you are interested in bringing your child to see us at Shifnal Dental Care, Call 01952 460119 or book your free initial consultation with our treatment coordinator Katherine here.