Medical Insider – Dr. Rhodora T. Entero

MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. RHODA ENTERO

How to Take Care of Young Children’s Dental Health

(Part 3)

One good advice as to how we take care of young children’s
dental health is to Put Our Foot Down as regards
Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing.
Once your kid is old enough to brush his teeth, flossing in
between his teeth, and rinsing his mouth, might be activities
he will not have the motivation and willingness to do on his
own.
He might see these as a chore he can forego at a whim. So,
don’t let your kid put up a fuss when it comes to brushing,
flossing, and rinsing. Don’t let him off the hook or boss you
around. Instill and ingrain in him the importance of brushing.
He doesn’t have a say on the matter.
Your kid can start brushing on his own without grownup
assistance at around 2 to 3 years of age. Here are some tips,
when it comes to coaxing your reluctant child especially on
forming dependable dental hygiene habits:

1. Develop Patience: Your child might not be prepared yet
   to do things on his own up until he’s 6 years old. It can
   even take up until he’s 10 years old to perfect their skills
   at flossing. Be patient with your child.
2. Use a Timer: You can also use a timer to ensure your kid
   has brushed their teeth for 2 minutes straight. They
   should be through in brushing every single nook and
   cranny. You can even play their favorite 2-minute song
   to help them keep track of the time.
3. Let Your Child Choose the Toothpaste: Kids who are 5
   years old or older should be able to pick their own
   toothpaste, like bubblegum-flavored ones or ones with
   superhero packaging on them, as long as they’re options
   you approve yourself.
4. Let Your Child Choose the Toothbrush: A child will also
   feel more in control when you allow them to pick
   toothbrushes containing their favorite mascot, superhero,
   or television character.
5. Start the Regimen Early: Don’t wait until it’s late in the
   day to remind your child to brush his teeth. If he’s tired
   then the amount of cooperation you can get out of him
   when brushing, flossing, and rinsing might be limited.
   Have him brush before it’s too close to his bedtime.
6. Read Related Books or Watch Related Videos: You can
   watch a video or read books with your child talking about
   the importance of dental hygiene. Some of these
   programs even include puppets or mascots your kids will
   adore.
7. Motivate the Child to Brush and Floss: Motivate your
   child to brush, floss, and rinse by turning it into a game.
   Have a reward system for gold star stickers on a chart.
   Turn it into a group activity even. Kids are likelier to learn
   something if they join in a group or see the grownups
   brushing.
8. Warning in Regards to the Reward System: It’s probably
   a bad idea to give your child food or sugary treats every
   time they brush their teeth. For one thing, they just
   brushed their teeth. For another thing, it defeats the
   purpose of instilling this habit into them. Give them apple
   slices or praise instead.
9. Plan a Fun Activity After Your Child’s Dentist Checkup:
   You probably shouldn’t give your child ice cream unless
   he went to the dentist to remove a decayed milk tooth or
   two. However, a fun activity rewarding him for finishing
   up the dreadful dentist visit can help motivate him to do
   more checkups. Get him to a carnival or watch a movie
   with him. Make the dental visit rewarding for him after he
   goes through with it. (To be continued)