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Four Ways to Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Teeth

Parents who teach their kids how to care for their teeth are making an investment in their children that will pay off for years to come -- in some cases, literally, as adults who have cared for their teeth throughout their life rarely have a need for expensive dental treatment. Teach children to care for their teeth in a simple, yet fun and consistent manner.

  1. The Basics

    • Teaching kids how to take care of their teeth starts with the basics. Before you begin to show them how to care for their teeth, explain why it is necessary to care for them -- e.g., remove plaque and bacteria -- and what some of the consequences can be if they do not, e.g., toothaches, painful dentist visits. After you have explained the why, demonstrate how to brush and floss teeth on both yourself and your children. Thereafter, monitor your children's brushing and flossing to make sure their technique is correct. At a minimum, encourage your children to brush twice a day and floss at least once.

    Dental Visits

    • Visit the dentist for regularly scheduled visits every six months so that your children learn that preventive care is the best way to protect the health of their teeth. Regular visits to the dentist will also help to reduce and overcome any anxiety your children have about the dentist. Moreover, dentist visits are becoming increasing important because dentists assess other conditions such as tongue cancer.

    Diet

    • Often overlooked in the teaching dental hygiene department is the importance of teaching children about the harmful effects of sugar and starches on teeth and steering them away from these food choices. While these foods can be included in your child's diet on a moderate or reward basis, teach your child that sugar, starches and processed foods are known to cause decay and cavities. Eating these foods in heavy doses comes at a cost and avoiding them should be a part of teaching a child preventive dental care.

    Fun

    • Teaching children how to care for their teeth can be an activity in which you incorporate lots of fun. For example, bring your children shopping and let them pick out their own toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. Another way to make learning how to care for teeth engaging and exciting is to use DVDs, books and games as teaching tools.

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