Three Easy Tips for Teaching Your Child Good Dental Habits

Dentists go through great lengths to convince adults to maintain oral health practices, so it’s little wonder that making sure children brush and floss regularly is an emphasized chore. Instilling good dental hygiene in a child from a young age is one of the best ways to ensure that they will retain their beautiful pearly whites well into adulthood, but it’s not always easy.

Weinstein Dental Center, a family and cosmetic dentistry clinic in West Hartford, recommends these three tips to help children learn to love caring for their teeth.

• Timing Is Everything – Parents are advised to supervise a child’s dental routine to make sure they are brushing well. One of the most important aspects of this is length of brushing – it is recommended that "brushing" last for at least two minutes. Setting a kitchen timer or buying an electric tooth brush with a timer can make it easier for a child to know the right time to stop brushing.
• Brushing Techniques – Even adults aren’t always sure the best technique for tooth brushing, which can ultimately lead to plaque build-up and gum disease. Parents and dentists can team up to teach a child proper techniques for brushing one’s teeth from the start. Always target the gum line with gentle, short brushing motions.
• Make the Dentist’s Office Fun – The dentist’s office is only scary if you have had a bad experience. By making dental visits a regular, fun experience, children can look forward to visiting Dr. Weinstein and having their teeth routinely cleaned. Parents should bring their child along to their own dental appointments as well, to show that visiting the dentist is not a “big deal.”

Helping your child to become responsible for their dental health doesn’t have to be hard. Try these easy tips and visit Weinstein Dental Center for the top family dental services in Connecticut. That’s something that parents and children can smile about.