It’s no secret that establishing a dental hygiene routine for your little one is no walk in the park. In fact, it’s one of the biggest things that they struggle with when it comes to managing a healthy smile. At Ricci Orthodontics, we’re passionate about making dental hygiene not only fun, but effortless for your young ones! Doing so will ensure that your orthodontic treatment produces the best results possible. This is a team effort!
First, it’s important to find a general dentist who is kind, caring and wants to work with your kids to establish a routine that works best for them. In addition, you want to stick with a place that they love and feel comfortable visiting. Remember, you’re most likely going to be visiting only twice a year for regular cleanings, so it’s important that this office will make an impact that will have a lasting effect! Consider rewarding them for an exceptional check up each time, and offer to take them to one of their favorite places or participate in an activity that they enjoy. This will make dental visits something to look forward to, and they will be more inclined to keep up with their hygiene if they know a reward is coming following a successful, cavity-free visit!
Make their morning and night-time routine enjoyable with character-branded toothpastes and toothbrushes. Who is their favorite Disney character? Depending on their age, they may find it more exciting to brush in the morning and at night if their favorite cartoon character is representing good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends we brush our teeth for two minutes, so take it to the next level by using a colorful sand timer to encourage them to brush a little longer.
Let’s talk about flossing…
Flossing is one of those things that is encouraged time and time again, but let’s be honest here, we don’t really ever floss enough. Invest in having a Waterpik, and make flossing for your kids an activity they will actually look forward to. A WaterPik takes the place of traditional floss, and is even more effective, because it reaches areas normal floss typically would not. Not to mention, it’s actually pretty cool and your kids will think so, too!
Another way to ensure your child is brushing like they should, is to make it a part of family bonding. Though this may not always be possible during the week due to busy school and work schedules, at the very least, make this a priority on the weekends and every night before bed. Children are more likely to imitate what their parents and siblings are doing, and this is your chance to set a good example for them. Before you know it, a solid hygiene routine will become second nature to them. If you want to turn it up a notch, I would recommend adding music to the mix! Who doesn’t like a dance party?
Now that we’ve gone over ways to make this a fun experience for the younger kids of the bunch, now is the time to execute it and watch their results shine! If you have yet to find a general dentist you love, we have recommendations that will make for the best dental experience you’ve ever had. Head on over to Ricci Orthodontics to discuss your options!
Tags: Fun Tips, oral hygiene
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