3 Tips For Getting The School Year Started With Good Dental Habits
With a new school year right on the horizon, it is important to make sure that you and your kids start the school year with good dental habits.
#1 Have an Established Morning Routine
The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you set-up a morning routine for your kids. Set –up an established way of getting ready in the morning that works for your family and ensures that your kids have enough time to brush and floss in the morning.
For example, maybe your kids get up, eat breakfast, take a shower, get dressed, brush their teeth and head out the door. Or perhaps you have your kids get up, take a shower, get dressed, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, and then head out to school. The key is to establish a flow and routine that works for your morning and allows your child plenty of time to brush and floss their teeth in the morning.
#2 Check-In On Your Kids
Don't just assume that your kids are actually brushing their teeth. If they are past the age of six, don't hover over them the entire time they are brushing their teeth. But, during the week, check in and make sure that you see them brushing their teeth. Hang out once a week and make sure that they are brushing their teeth correctly and provide gentle pointers if you notice them rushing the brushing process or skipping a part of their mouth as they brush.
Put on a song for your kids to brush their teeth to so that they know how long they should brush their teeth. This can help ensure that your kid's don't rush the brushing process.
#3 Provide Healthy Snacks
Make sure that you send your child to school with healthy snacks and give your child health snacks after school as well. Stay away from foods that are high in sugar and will damage your children's teeth. Stick to healthy snacks, such as apples, popcorn, and carrots. Fruits and vegetables make great snacks, and can help keep your children's teeth clean as well.
Help your child develop healthy eating habits now that they can carry into adulthood. Avoiding sugary foods is a great snack habit to help your child develop that will help not only their dental health, but their overall health as well.
Establish and morning routine that you can stick to. Make sure that your child's brushing time is not a rushed process. Give your child healthy snacks that will protect their dental health and help them establish life-long healthy habits. Contact a dental clinic, like Rupp and Grabowski Family Dentistry, for more help.
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