It can be difficult to convince your children to properly maintain their oral health, but implementing these 5 simple and fun dental hygiene suggestions will make establishing an oral care routine easier than ever for them (and for you).

1. Brush Twice a Day x 2 Minutes

Teach your children to brush their teeth in the morning and right before bed for two minutes each time. Let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavor, and play their favorite song to encourage them to brush long enough. If they haven’t nailed the correct brushing technique of using gentle, tiny circles for the proper duration, consider investing in an electric toothbrush geared towards kids that incorporates interactive apps and light-up colors to keep your child engaged in brushing. Electric toothbrushes have built-in timers so kids know they’ve brushed the full two minutes. If your child requires even more incentive to brush, have them put a sticker on the calendar for each time they brush their teeth twice a day and give them a reward each month for doing so.

2. Floss Daily

Flossing is an important way to remove trapped plaque and bacteria from those tight spaces between teeth. Teach your kids to floss at least once a day and reward them for doing so. Try buying flavored floss to make flossing more enticing to your kiddos!

3. Use Mouthwash with Supervision

If your child is over six years old, an alcohol-free or natural mouthwash can be a tasty way for your child to freshen up their breath and to dislodge any food particles in their mouths. Let them choose a flavor they enjoy, like bubblegum. Supervise your child when using mouthwash to be sure they swish and then spit, not swallow!

4. Limit Foods & Drinks High in Sugar

Completely avoiding candy, sweets, and sodas can be very hard for kids to do, so teach them how to moderate their intake and understand when they’ve had enough. Offer them a wide array of healthy foods like crunchy vegetables, dairy, nuts, and fresh fruit to keep their teeth naturally clean and strong. Moreover, if your kids see YOU enjoying healthy foods, they are likely to do the same!

5. Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water encourages saliva production and washes plaque off the surface of teeth. Encourage your kids to drink water all throughout the day. Let them drink out of cups or water bottles that have their favorite movie or book characters, designs, or animals on them to make drinking water more exciting for your little ones.

Schedule Appointments for Your Entire Family!

Don’t forget to schedule twice yearly dental appointments for all members of your family! At Jackson Smiles, we pride ourselves on fostering strong relationships with all of our patients, no matter their age, and know how to make our younger patients feel comfortable and at ease. Contact us to schedule an appointment with us today.