There are many aspects of your family’s health that you have to look out for as a parent, But one that cannot be ignored is their dental health. Happily, there are some easy ways to make sure your family’s teeth stay in tip-top condition. Read on to find out what they are.
Do watch your sugar consumption
Have you ever tried shopping at the supermarket for things that don’t contain sugar? If not, you should try it, as it’s surprisingly hard. Of course, as you already know, too much sugar, especially refined kins is bad for our family’s teeth because it encourages bacteria, plaque, and cavities.
With that in mind, taking action to reduce the amount of refined sugar that your family consumes is a good idea. This may mean shopping online for sugar-free sweet treats that are better for their teeth or making your own version of things like pasta sauce as the jarred options you get from the supermarket often have a great deal of sugar in them.
Do set a good example around going to the dentist
Regular dentist visits are a crucial part of good oral health for the whole family. Yet they are also something that many adults and kids can struggle with. Indeed, dental anxiety can be a real barrier to getting regular checkups and cleanings that will keep your family’s teeth healthy over the long term.
The good news is there are ways to minimize dental anxiety. The first is to find a practice that specializes in kids and family dentistry in your local area. Then you can be sure they will be used to dealing with patients of all ages and will be able to give your kids a great initial experience that will keep them coming back as they grow.
Do teach kids about dental care
Another way you can promote dental health in your family is to teach kids about it. That means going behind just showing them how to brush their teeth, and instead explaining to them why brushing and flossing are important.
There are all sorts of ways you can do this, from explaining it yourself to using a fun video from youtube with cartoon characters. You may also like to introduce them to the tradition of the tooth fairy. Then you can encourage them to have great dental hygiene by placing special emphasis on making sure that their teeth are as clean as possible for when she comes to collect them!
Do make tooth care a regular part of your routine
Last, of all, young kids learn primarily by watching what their parents do. That means you haven’t to show them that tooth care is part of your regular routine. With that in mind, it can be very helpful to brush your teeth as a family before the kids go to bed.
Yes, I know that that means you’ll need to do yours again before you hit the sack, but that shared experience can be very valuable to your little ones. After all, they spend so much of their childhood wanting to do what the grownups are doing, so why not use it to help them get better dental health?
