National children’s dental health month

Every February, our dentist in Chicago enjoy participating in National Children’s Dental Health Month to encourage healthy oral hygiene habits in kids. The earlier you start to emphasize the importance of oral health with your kids, the better their habits will become!

This year, the American Dental Association has chosen the campaign slogan as “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.” Keep the following tips in mind when discussing oral health with your children!

Show them the ropes

Your children aren’t born knowing how to brush and floss their teeth, that’s where you come in. Take time to show your children the right brushing motions, how to floss, the proper amount of toothpaste to use, how long to brush, etc. Your children look up to you so lead by example. Make brushing and flossing part of your routine and encourage your children to get excited about it.

Choices

One of the most exciting parts about oral health for children is getting to pick out their toothbrush, floss and toothpaste. Many brands use familiar television or movie characters to draw in children. Your children will be excited to see their favorite character so make it a whole experience for them. From choosing their favorite character to choosing the flavor of toothpaste, they will be eager to test them out as soon as they get home!

As your dentist in Chicago, we want to make sure that your little ones are taking care of their teeth! Even though they will fall out, we want to get children in the habit of good dental hygiene so that they are set when their adult teeth grow in.