Children’s Dental Health Tips For Parents! [BLOG]

We can’t let Children’s Dental Health Month end without reminding families in Zanesville, OH where to go for comprehensive, quality dental care in a kid-friendly environment!

At Hawkins Complete Dental Service, you’ll find all the family dentistry services you need to protect your loved ones’ smiles through every stage.

Children’s Dental Health Tips For Parents!

Parents have a tough job, making sure their kids are safe and healthy and that they grow up knowing how to take good care of themselves.

Never fear! We’re giving parents these helpful dental health tips that will make it easier to keep your family’s smiles strong!

*Choose A Fun, Friendly Family Dentist*

For millions of Americans, going to the dentist is so frightening, they avoid it altogether.

And it shows in their oral and overall health.

So one of the best things you can do for your child’s smile is to prevent dental anxiety and introduce them to professional dental care at an early age.

Choose a fun, friendly family dentist like Dr. Hawkins! He’s a parent, too, not to mention a close, personal friend of Santa!

Your kids will love visiting our Zanesville, OH dental office for routine cleanings and exams, which will help them grow up with the confidence they need to maintain those appointments for the rest of their lives!

*Provide Structure For Daily Oral Hygiene*

Although they probably won’t admit it, kids crave structure. It makes them feel safe and secure.

When their daily lives are grounded in consistency and routine, they’re healthier and happier.

So be sure that you create a stable pattern of daily oral hygiene.

Brushing and flossing should happen at the same time every single day, and while it might be tough to instill at first, eventually your kids will manage these habits without even thinking about it!

*Make Brushing & Flossing Fun*

In the early days of parenthood, you’ll likely have to deal with your share of struggles when it comes to making your kids do things they don’t want to do. Eating their vegetables, going to bed, and yes, brushing and flossing their teeth.

That’s why it’s a good idea to make oral hygiene fun! It won’t feel so much like a chore if your child can enjoy a certain amount of ownership of their dental health. You can encourage that by letting them have a say in a reward system for keeping their teeth clean, pick out their own toothbrush, or play a song while they brush so they can follow the two-minute rule set by the ADA.

*Be A Healthy Role Model*

An unhealthy lifestyle isn’t something people randomly adopt by instinct.

It’s learned, which means your kids will most likely adopt the same lifestyle habits they see in you.

Make sure those habits are healthy!

Reserve sweets and junk foods for once-in-awhile treats rather than making them staples in your family’s daily diet. The same holds for what you drink. Encourage your family to drink more water than anything else, like sugary sports drinks, sodas, and fruit juices.

Stock your kitchen with fresh whole foods instead of packaged, highly-processed foods that are packed with refined carbs and sugar.

If your kids are raised on a nutritious diet and active lifestyle, it will be easier for them to maintain better lifelong health!

Schedule Your Child’s Appointment!

Raising a family isn’t easy, especially in our fast-paced, competitive culture.

You can at least make your child’s dental health easier to maintain by trusting Dr. Hawkins and our kid-friendly team in Zanesville, OH! We’re your support system for keeping all the smiles in your family healthy for a lifetime!

Call Hawkins Complete Dental Service today at 740-214-1301 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule your child’s next dental appointment.