Keep Those Precious Smiles Healthy with Preventive Care

Posted March 4, 2016

You probably fell in love with your kids’ smile the first time they made a toothless grin, and you have likely loved seeing every new development since. As teeth come in and fall out, you only love those precious smiles more. So of course you want to make sure that your kids have healthy teeth and gums as they grow up! Fortunately, preventive dental care is simpler than many parents think. With some diligence, you can teach your kids how to best care for their smiles at home, and that dental checkups are an essential part of maintaining great oral health. That way they can spend their lives showing off those same great smiles you have always loved!

Encouraging Kids to Care for Their Teeth

Teaching your kids how to brush and floss properly, and why it’s important to do so every day, can unfortunately feel like more of a chore for you than for them. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile effort, or that it’s impossible!

Try watching online tutorials about proper brushing and flossing technique, together, especially if you’re unsure, yourself, how to best floss your teeth. This can ensure you’re teaching your kids great habits they won’t someday have to unlearn (as they would if they learn improper technique). The American Dental Association provides great resources, including instructional videos. But for younger kids you can also find many dental hygiene-based education clips featuring some of their favorite cartoon and TV characters.

It’s also important to monitor them until they’re adept and responsible enough to take care of brushing their teeth on their own, with no risk of swallowing the toothpaste.

Dental Appointments Shouldn’t Be Neglected

Of course, daily hygiene is no substitute for regular dental checkups. So it’s important to teach your kids from a young age why checkups and cleanings are important, and that they’re nothing to fear.

Simple cleanings are a great way to prevent dental problems. For most children, appointments every six months are advisable.