Oral health maintenance is a commitment that helps prevent cavities, infections, gum disease, and tooth loss. Getting children excited about dental care from a young age sets the foundation for a lifetime of excellent oral hygiene. However, it can feel challenging to encourage this practice, so here are some ideas to make it easier.

How to Encourage Dental Care Practices in Children

1. Be a Good Example

Children imitate the adults in their lives. If you show excitement about oral health, your child will as well. Talk about how fun a dental hygiene routine is since it eliminates bad bacteria from the mouth. You can also make brushing and flossing a family activity to promote further excitement. Little kids enjoy doing tasks with their older siblings and parents. 

Family dental care helps your child feel like a big kid responsible for their oral health. It also helps to let the little one choose their toothbrush, as there are many kid-sized tools featuring bright colors and fun characters. To make brushing more enjoyable, purchase child-friendly toothpaste. This product comes in various flavors, including bubblegum and strawberry.

2. Play Brushing Tunes

Adding music can make toothbrushing feel like a fun activity to look forward to for your kid. Choose from numerous tunes about the habit that stars your little one's favorite television characters. You can also ask your child to select songs unrelated to dental care, such as those sung by popular children's entertainers.

As long as the music is upbeat and fun, it doesn't matter what song your little one picks. However, ensure that the tune is at least two minutes long. This length is the standard brushing duration, allowing enough time to eliminate most plaque and food particles from the mouth. 

3. Incorporate Dental-Themed Activities

New belongings elicit excitement in children, so choose products with oral care themes. Look for dental-centric toys like plush dragons, frogs, fish, bears, and elephants. These items feature big faux teeth and usually come with play toothbrushes to roleplay as dentists and learn the importance of oral hygiene. You can also read books about going to the dentist, which helps your child know what to expect during initial visits. 

If it is time for your little one's next dental checkup, visit the team at Pedodontic Associates in Hawaii. With locations on Oahu and Maui, this dental care practice provides a friendly, welcoming environment for babies, young children, and adolescents. They offer various preventative services, from annual cleanings to fluoride treatments. To make an appointment, call (808) 487-7933 for the Aiea office, (808) 735-1733 to reach the Kahala staff, or (808) 877-0066 for the Kahului location. Visit the website for more information about their dental care services.