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Teaching Your Child Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Teaching Your Child Good Oral Hygiene Habits

These helpful tips will make caring for your smile fun for the whole family.

 

Kid Oral HygieneThey say that children mimic what they see their parents doing, so when it comes to your oral care what kind of example are your setting for your child? We hope you are showing them the importance of good oral hygiene. Of course, you may not know exactly where to start when it comes to good oral habits to adopt. Let our North Syracuse, NY, dentist Dr. Inderpreet Atwal offer up some useful tips that will have the whole family maintaining healthy smiles for the long run.

Make At-Home Brushing and Flossing a Family Activity

It’s important that everyone is brushing twice a day and flossing daily. When you or your child is brushing aim to brush for at least 2 minutes each time, which gives you time to reach all the surfaces and areas of your teeth and gums. If your toothbrush doesn’t have a built-in timer, it’s important to set a timer to make sure your little one is brushing long enough.

For at least the first 7 or 8 years of your child’s life, you will have to brush and floss their teeth for them, showing them how to do it and teaching them along the way so that when they turn 7 years old they can start doing it themselves (with parental supervision, of course!).

Snack Smart for Your Smile

What your child eats can either help them maintain a beautiful, healthy smile or it could lead to cavities, gum disease and other issues. This is why it’s important to limit sugar as much as possible and avoid soft drinks and sports drinks. Opt for water, which is the smartest choice for your little one’s smile and make sure they are getting a healthy balanced diet that is free of processed foods to reduce their risk for cavities.

Keep Up With Routine Dental Checkups

Once your child turns one year old they need to start visiting their North Syracuse, NY, family dentist for preventive dental care and cleanings to protect against common problems such as cavities and gum disease. These visits are crucial for maintaining a healthy smile and for detecting issues early on when they are much easier to address.

Here at Atwal Dental Care in North Syracuse, NY, we believe that nothing is more important than your oral health. We aim for dental excellence in our office each and every day, so whether you just need to schedule a routine cleaning for yourself or you want to determine whether orthodontic treatment can help your child, call our office today to learn more about what we can do for your family.