Good oral hygiene keeps your child's smile bright and healthy. Unfortunately, convincing your children to take good care of their teeth is often much more difficult than it sounds. Thankfully, your Colorado Springs, CO, dentist, Dr. Nolan Behr, can help reinforce the oral hygiene lessons that you teach your children, as well as offer pediatric dental treatment should your child have a cavity or another dental issue.
Tell Them Why
Is "why" your children's favorite question? Explaining the reasons that you want them to brush and floss their teeth may help them see the value in good oral hygiene. If your kids are older, then you can briefly discuss the way that acids are produced when the bacteria in plaque meets sugars in foods.
Show Them
You can find almost anything on YouTube, including cute videos that explain exactly how to brush teeth. Make sure that your children understand that brushing only the fronts of their teeth won't keep cavities away. Good oral hygiene involves brushing the fronts, backs, and tops of teeth twice-a-day and flossing once a day to remove plaque between teeth.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least two minutes. If your kids aren't convinced that longer is better when it comes to brushing, buy some plaque disclosing tablets online or in a Colorado Springs drugstore. The chewable tablets make plaque look red, blue or purple and let your kids see how thoroughly they're actually brushing.
Supervise Brushing and Flossing
Children may not be coordinated enough to handle brushing and flossing on their own until they're about 7. Until then, provide assistance as needed. Some kids also need a little extra help or supervision after age 7, particularly if they tend to brush too quickly or you happen to notice their toothbrushes are suspiciously dry.
Time for an Appointment? Give Us a Call
Protect your child's smile with pediatric dental treatment! Call your dentist in Colorado Springs, Dr. Behr, at (719) 591-2050 to schedule your son or daughter's appointment.