Healthy smiles happy parents: encouraging oral healthcare for your kids

What do crawling, walking, talking and teething all have in common? These are all important development steps in the life of your child. Helping your child learn how to walk is just as important as teaching them the important steps to good oral health care. Here are some helpful tips on how to encourage your child that good dental care is not only good for them but also fun!

Decay can begin as soon as teeth appear so you’ll need to begin having your child brush their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste as early as a year old. Until you think your child is able to brush their teeth on their own, you should brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a very small amount of toothpaste, usually close to the size of a grain of rice.

Brushing their teeth can be an activity that your child looks forward to by giving them the opportunity to customize their choice of toothbrush and toothpaste. Whether the brush has “Dora the Explorer,” “Spiderman” or “Olaf” on it, your child will be happy that their toothbrush is special to their own likes and interests. Some brands also offer flavored toothpaste that varies from watermelon to bubblegum for any kids that don’t like the taste of regular toothpaste.

Oral health care is important no matter the age. By providing tricks and activities that work best for your family, getting your child excited about dental care can be easier than you think. By developing a solid routine, you’ll keep your child not only happy, but healthy too.