Discover the best strategies for caring for your child’s smile.
Teach ‘em young is what any dentist will say about making sure your child understands the importance of caring for their teeth and gums. Of course, we also know that parents are going to do most of the work for at least the first few years of their life. Along with proper at-home care, it’s important that you are visiting the Niceville, FL, dental team of Dr. Jordan Harper and Dr. Ralf Zapata, who provides comprehensive pediatric dentistry along with routine checkups and cleanings.
Wondering how to get your child on the good oral health bandwagon?
Show Them How It’s Done
Ever notice how your child mimics everything you do? That’s because you’re their role model. This means that you have a duty to show your child that you too know how to properly care for your smile and practice good oral hygiene. Show them that you brush and floss every day and make caring for your smile a family affair. This little habit alone can make a world of difference.
Make Oral Care Fun
Thanks to the Internet, we now have YouTube and other sites that make it possible to find fun videos and to jam along to tunes. So, there’s no reason that brushing and flossing your child’s teeth has to be a dull experience. Find fun music videos that your child will want to listen to while you’re caring for their smile. Want to teach your child about why they should care for their smile? There are also tons of fun educational dental videos to show them how it’s done.
Bring Them to The Dentist Regularly
Again, the sooner you start bringing your child in for regular pediatric dentistry care here in Niceville, FL, the sooner they will get acclimated to seeing the dentist twice a year. Once your child’s first teeth erupt it’s time to schedule their first dental appointment. In the meantime, you may wish to bring your child to one of your own dental cleanings to show them that it’s easy, painless and nothing to worry about. Everyone does it!
Reward Them
Did your child floss their teeth for the first time on their own? Did they go to the dentist without any issues? It’s okay to reward your child for being responsible. While you might not want to reach for sugar as a reward, you can offer to buy them a small trinket that they’ve wanted, make a meal they love or offer to read them a longer bedtime story.
Whether you have questions about the pediatric dentistry services we offer here in Niceville, FL, or you’re simply looking for a dentist to care for your child’s smile, don’t hesitate to call Niceville Family Dental at (850) 729-1223 to schedule an evaluation.