Dental health is crucial for your kids. Helping your children develop sound dental health habits early on can go a long way toward ensuring good oral health not just right now but throughout life. That being said, getting kids to care for their teeth is often easier said than done. Unfortunately, among adolescents aged 12 to 19, more than half have had at least one cavity in their permanent teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Yet by working with a pediatric dentist and following the suggestions below, you can get off to a good start.

1. Lead by Example

Leading by example is often one of the most effective forms of teaching. This is especially true about children, as they tend to emulate their parents. It’s a great idea to brush your teeth together with your kids. When they see how much effort you put into brushing your teeth, they’ll be more likely to put in a similar amount of effort.

2. Use Kid-Friendly Toothpaste

Many kids are picky eaters. Ever wonder why that is? In part, it’s because children have more taste buds and thus more sensitive senses of taste than adults. As a result, flavors that may seem palatable to adults may be overwhelming for kids.

This can be the case with adult toothpaste. That mint toothpaste you love may taste much stronger for your kids. The good news is that you can find toothpaste designed for children and their more sensitive sense of taste. If you need help selecting the right toothpaste, chat with a pediatric dentist.

3. Practice Brushing With Legos

If your kid enjoys playing with Legos, you can build a simple model for teeth with Legos. Then, you and your child can practice brushing the model so that your child develops proper techniques. You can also use other things, like egg cartons, or buy a model of teeth online and then practice.

4. Make Brushing Your Teeth an Adventure

There are various games pediatric dentists can teach you to play with your kids to turn oral health care into an adventure. You can also find books and videos online that you can use to turn brushing into a fun activity. This is a great way to make the whole experience more fun for you and your child.

Looking for a pediatric dentist who can assist? We always look forward to working with children to ensure good oral health and proper dental habits. Get in touch with Dentistry 4 Kids today.