Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Brushing, flossing and going to the dentist are not on most children's minds. They eat candy, drink soda, and maybe forget to brush unless you remind them. However, that can change. There are things you can do to help your child get into good dental hygiene habits. Here are a few ideas:

A Fun Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Rather than have your child use a bland, boring, adult toothbrush, get them a fun one designed for kids. There are toothbrushes designed to look like cartoon characters, dinosaurs, and other figures.  

Next, get a toothpaste with a flavor your child likes. They might find that the common flavors (e.g. mint) are too strong. You can get bubblegum- or cinnamon-flavored toothpaste.

Oral Irrigation: Fun Like A Water Gun!

This is a fantastic way to get your child to spend time cleaning their teeth. It's fun because its similar to a water gun. However, a water pick is an excellent way to make sure that their teeth are clean.

A water pick, or oral irrigator, is an electrical device that has a tank to hold water. There is a tube leading from the tank to a small handle. You attach different attachments to the handle that spray water. These are great because they remove plaque and bits of food from between teeth, and they clean the gum line.

Make sure to teach your child how to use the device properly so that they don't injure their gums. Here is a brief overview on how to use them.

The Right Floss

This one is really important. Flossing should be done after every meal. Some kids have a hard time reaching back to their molars, holding the floss securely, or keeping the floss from shredding. An easy solution is to get plastic flossers. These flossers keep the floss taut, and your child won't have to worry about wrapping the floss around the fingers. They're great because your child will have no excuse for not being able to reach certain teeth. 

A Family Dentist

Of course, you'll need to take your kid to a dentist for a checkup every six months. The important thing is to pick a dentist, like Four Corners Dental Group Fairbanks, that is geared towards families. These offices may have dentists that are trained in pediatric dentistry, so they understand how to handle kids. These offices won't be scary to your child since there will be toys, fun decorations, and maybe even a TV.