Teaching Your Children Proper Dental Habits

It’s never too late to get your household practicing good oral hygiene.

From learning how to read to understanding how to share with others, you teach your child a lot of valuable skills, lessons and habits throughout their lifetime. Of course, it’s also incredibly important to instill proper dental habits in your child early on when they are more likely to stick. Our Kirkland, WA, family dentist Dr. Bernard Pak loves nothing more than to see your entire family with healthy smiles. Here are some tips that parents can follow to help their children develop healthy smile habits,

Lead by example

Children mirror what their parents do, so this is the perfect time to use this mimicking to your advantage. Teach your children how to properly brush and floss their teeth by showing them how you do it. By making your own oral care a top priority you can also get them more interested in their own dental health. Make caring for your smile a routine the whole family does together.

Let them choose their own toothbrush

You want your child to take a vested interest in their own oral health, too. Therefore, the next time you go to the grocery store or pharmacy, let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. You may be surprised to see how much more enthusiast your child gets about brushing their teeth when their favorite superheroes or cartoon characters are on their toothbrush or when their toothpaste tastes like bubble gum.

Make brushing and flossing more fun

Who says caring for your smile has to be boring? There are a variety of ways to jazz up your child’s morning and nightly routine. Maybe you have a puppet that you bring out to help your child brush and floss their teeth. The puppet can make the experience more interactive and fun, plus you can bring the puppet along on your child’s next trip to our Kirkland, WA, office, which can help ease any nerves about visiting your family dentist.

Make smart food choices (together)

Even the smallest changes to your child’s diet can improve their oral health. Avoiding sugary, starchy snacks, desserts and treats can go a long way to reducing you and your child’s risk for cavities. Look for snacks that are friendly on teeth and gums, including hummus, raw veggies, apple slices and string cheese. Finding cool healthy recipes to make together can also instill healthy eating habits in the whole family.

Have questions about how to care for your child’s teeth? Need to schedule cleanings for the whole family with our Kirkland, WA, family dentist? If so, the dental team at Kirkland Smiles Dental Care can provide you with answers, treatment and comprehensive care. Call us today at (425) 893-9500.

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Kirkland Smiles Dental Care

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

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Open 1 to 2 Friday's per Month

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