Children’s’ dental health practices are pivotal in creating and maintaining good lifelong dental habits and healthy adult teeth.
Empower your child to take an active role in her or his oral health by encouraging fun and creative activities which will ensure healthy teeth and a healthy mouth.
This essential guide to oral health activities for kids could be customized to focus on your child’s dental health needs, and spark his or her individual interests.
The recommended activities are effective in maintaining your child’s oral health and with a little imagination, can help create an interest in dental health for your kids. The activities, if done on a regular basis, will also create good dental hygiene habits and serve to remind kids of the importance of taking care of their teeth.
Pre-Brush Rinsing for Children
You can find pre-brush rinses in many different styles, colors, and flavors. They come with promises of tingles, tints, and appetizing flavors. You could even get them with your child’s favorite cartoon character on the bottle. These are meant to loosen up and highlight the foreign matter on your child’s teeth and gums that is meant to be brushed off.
Brushing for Kids
Anyone who has ever bought toothpaste knows there are all kinds available. You can get them in a wide selection of flavors, colors, and packaging. There are some that appeal just to kids; such as those with cartoon characters and fun fruity flavors. Finding the one your child prefers may go a long way in making the morning and nighttime routines as easy as possible. Bear in mind they are supposed to brush for two full minutes, and make sure that whichever style you pick has the AMA Seal of Acceptance on it.
Children’s Mouth Rinse
Children’s mouthwashes, like pre-brush rinses, are available in a broad selection of colors and flavors. Using mouthwash after brushing kills germs, freshens breath, and could aid in removing particles and debris left behind after brushing.
Flossing for Kids
Flossers make flossing easy for children. Flossers are available in a variety of shapes, colors, and styles, from princesses to superheroes. These tiny tools allow kids to easily perform a key, but often cumbersome, step of their dental hygiene routine with little or no help from an adult.
Get Gum!
Sugar-free gum helps fight cavities in between brushing. Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production and can help to dislodge particles of food stuck in between your child’s teeth. The increased saliva neutralizes acid in the mouth and washes away food debris which may lead to dental carries in kids.
Your child may actually learn to enjoy taking care of their teeth with a little help on your part. Involve them in the decision making process when purchasing the items they will be using. Make the process fun. Then teach them how to properly use the tools they picked out. You both may be pleasantly surprised by the outcome! The good oral health habits you impart now will last a lifetime, and the rewards are definitely worth it.