When it comes to dental hygiene, it’s best to get into good habits early. That’s why at Viva Dental Centre in Lancaster we emphasise the importance of bringing your child along to a dentist appointment as early as possible. In today’s blog post our dentists give their tips for teaching your children good dental hygiene habits, so their dental health can be off to a good start.

When should I start to brush my baby’s teeth?

You should start to brush your baby’s teeth as soon as the first one appears, which is usually at around 6 months old. Up until they are around 3 years old, start off by only using a small smear of toothpaste and guiding your child’s hand to show them the correct movements for brushing their teeth. Once they are able to hold the toothbrush by themself then they can do it by themself, although a parent or carer should continue to supervise. You can even try brushing your teeth with your child, encouraging them to copy your movements, and making sure they are brushing for the full 2 minutes.

For children aged 3-6, they should be using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and spitting out the toothpaste as they brush. Once your child reaches 6-7 years old they should be able to brush on their own, but a parent or carer should still supervise occasionally.

Our top tips for teaching your children dental hygiene

Lead by example

Kids love to mimic the behaviour of grown-ups. If they see you brushing and taking good care of your teeth, chances are they will copy. It’s also a good idea to brush your teeth alongside your child as they are learning so that they can copy your movements and to ensure that they are brushing for the full 2 minutes.

Make it an activity

You should aim to make brushing your teeth an enjoyable experience, to encourage your child to get into a routine. One of the best ways to do this is by making it a fun activity to do together. Try making up a dance routine or singing a song while brushing your teeth – whatever makes it fun! You could also use rewards to motivate your child to brush their teeth or keep a chart tracking their dental hygiene habits – anything that keeps them motivated.

Find a family-friendly dentist

Many people who have a phobia of the dentist as an adult blame it on bad experiences with dentists as a child. This is why it is so important to find a family dentist that can provide good dental care to children, such as us at Viva Dental. Our friendly team is committed to making your child feel comfortable and safe during their time with us so that they don’t fear dental checkups in the future.

To book you and your child a dental check-up at our dental practice here in Lancaster, get in touch via our contact page. We can give you the advice and guidance you need to start your child’s dental health journey on the right track.