Dentists, Here's How to Encourage Parents to Start Dental Hygiene Habits at a Young Age

Establishing the foundation for good oral health at an early age is extremely important. Instilling healthy oral habits in a young child, while he or she still has their baby teeth, will help the child develop an understanding of the fundamentals needed to protect their permanent teeth later on.

From the time children are born, parents play a major role in determining the future success of their oral health. There’s a common misconception that caring for baby teeth isn’t as important as caring for permanent teeth. However, not only is it an important test run for caring for permanent teeth, but an adverse experience at the dentist at a young age, when children are more impressionable, could result in the child fearing the dentist for the rest of their life. Here are ways parents can keep children engaged and active in their oral health care from a young age.

Encourage parents to bring their child to the dentist as soon as possible

Dentists can certainly help get parents acclimated, engaged, and educated on proper oral health habits for their children. It is important for babies to be seen by a dental professional when they get their first tooth. Taking a child to the dentist as soon as possible will establish a positive, immersive experience from the very beginning, and helps to eliminate any anxious or nervous feelings that may be associated with a dental visit. A child should get used to the sensation/feeling of having a dentist in their mouth, even if they don’t participate in a robust dental cleaning right away. Encouraging parents to bring their child in for a ride in the dental chair, for example, will help the child to associate a trip to the dentist as a fun, rewarding experience, rather than something scary. Simultaneously, parents can spend the appointment time learning how to properly clean their child’s teeth to prevent decay and oral health issues down the road. There are a lot of oral health options out there, so dentists can help parents create a simple strategy to maintain their child’s care at home.

Utilize entertainment while brushing

Children don’t have to just stare at themselves in the mirror while they brush their teeth – there are plenty of ways for parents to keep teeth-brushing entertaining. For instance, parents can utilize plaque disclosing tablets to help identify areas of a child’s teeth they may have missed after brushing. The tablets contain a harmless dye (likely pink or blue) that reacts with any remaining plaque after they’ve been cleaned. Plaque is generally the same color as one’s tooth, so it is easy to miss a spot. This tactic would likely be very amusing to children ages three and up!

Another tactic to suggest to parents is to tell them that if their child has a favorite song, try playing it each time they brush their teeth. When the song is over, they’ll know they can stop brushing. There are also sand timers or phone apps that children can use to ensure they spend enough time on the task as well. With the technology we have today, there are a lot of ways to make this daily experience engaging and interactive.

Be mindful of how you describe the dental experience in general

Parents should do their best to adjust their mindset when it comes portraying the importance of oral care. Suggest that parents show their excitement for brushing teeth, or going to the dentist, so children don’t negatively associate those actions with something that’s scary, frustrating, or annoying. Instead of saying, “If you don’t brush every day, you’ll get a cavity,” remind parents to instead set them up for success by rephrasing to, “You’re doing a wonderful job of brushing your teeth twice a day to avoid getting a cavity. Keep up the great work!” If framed incorrectly, a trip to the dentist could be an anxiety-provoking and overwhelming activity. The role of a parent is to work to eliminate those anxious feelings as much as possible.

To create a family-friendly environment for your patients, use tips such as these to help give both parents and children the tools needed to create healthy habits for the future. Dentists should consider providing patients that have or are expecting children with reminders of the simple strategies they can use to promote positive oral health behaviors. Parents, by setting children up for success, you’re creating habits that they will pass on for generations to come.

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