If you are reading this you must be a parent. The year-end calls in for some new year resolutions and you might have some planned for yourself. But as parents have you thought about making some resolutions for your children? If yes, is the dental health of your child on the list? If you haven’t planned any, dental resolutions for your kids dental health can prove to be a good one.

The first step

Prioritizing your child’s oral health can help you stage a lifetime of good dental habits for them and gift them a life without any dental problems in the future. When we ourselves are unaware of our dental hygiene practices, understanding child dental care becomes difficult.

As we know that baby’s teeth are a blueprint of their permanent teeth, so utmost care for baby’s teeth is important.  Tooth cavities not only impact the child’s ability to eat and sleep but also has a huge impact on the child’s ability to learn and speak confidently in school.

So the first important thing to do this New Year is is to take your child for a dental clinic tour to establish a Dental Home for your child’s dental needs. This will also help your child become more familiar with a dental clinic and not develop a dental phobia in his/ her mind.

Remember, it’s never too late! So here are a few oral health care resolutions for kids which you can start for the year 2022

Big no to sleeping without brushing

One of the main causes of dental decay is poor oral hygiene. So it’s very important that your child brushes his teeth twice a day. Studies show brushing at night is more important than brushing in the morning. As a parent not only your child, but you should also get into the habit of brushing before bed. This way you get to work on your resolution too and it can be an activity for both.

As kids are bound to eat sugary and sticky foods, these foods remain in the mouth for a longer time giving plenty of time for the bacteria to start the decay process. It’s important to remove these remains with brushing and rinsing. Have kids brush their teeth twice daily with pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste.

It’s time to break the monotony

Brushing your child’s teeth is the biggest task for parents but it can be converted into a fun activity if everyone is involved and follow the same dental care routine. Monotonous patterns of brushing become a boring and repetitive activity for the child and they end up thinking it’s a task. Ultimately brushing process ends with either yelling shouting or running around the entire house. So daily fun activities can be done for your child like playing a brushing song, or teeth and gums dance while you brush, conducting brushing contests among siblings, etc.

Switching toothbrushes

As children are too young to understand the right brushing techniques and may end up not cleaning a few areas in the mouth properly electric toothbrushes could be a better idea. Switching to powered toothbrushes, not only saves time but also increases the efficiency of brushing and assures complete cleaning of all teeth. Kids are also fascinated with technology and toys. This way a good electric toothbrush serves the purpose of both entertainment as well as cleaning the teeth.

Using a water flosser daily

As adults find flossing their teeth a hassle, making kids do it may seem a nightmare. But flossing is very important to prevent cavities between the teeth. As we know kids love to play with water and they are in their happiest times when any activity is related to splashing water. Water flossers can interest even those who absolutely hate brushing their teeth. Kids might not be able to use floss threads and floss picks daily but water flossers are a no-brainer and are absolutely safe. They serve the purpose of cleaning the areas between the teeth by flushing out the debris. Like electric toothbrushes, water flossers also serve the purpose of cleaning as well as a toy.

Discontinuing your child’s oral habits

Thumb sucking or use of any pacifiers is completely normal till the child is of 5 years, but if this habit continues for a long time, it has to be stopped. Pediatric dentists generally recommend thumb sucking as normal till the age of 3 years and weaning is normal up to 12 -13 months. Continuing habits beyond this duration can cause your child’s teeth to become mal-aligned and invite other consequences. Pediatric dentists guide your child to help break these habits much before they start causing any harm.

Getting your child in the habit of using a mouthguard

Parents with active kids this one is for you. The majority of kids get their teeth fractured while playing. So if your child plays sports or participates in outdoor activities you can invest in a mouth guard for your kiddo. A mouthguard offers necessary protection against a sudden fall on front teeth, hit by a ball, punch on the face or teeth, etc. You can buy a readymade mouthguard or get it customized by your Pediatric Dentist.

Teeth cleaning and polishing for your child

Parents do have a lot of other things to think about when it comes to their children and at times dental health is not always and the only thing to care about. But it is one important part of your child’s future. Daily hassles should not cost your child poor dental health. Hence regular dental check-ups, teeth cleaning, and polishing every 4-5 months for your child is a must. Professional cleanings are also essential for kids’ healthy teeth as some amount of plaque and calculus deposits still remain no matter what care you take.

Regular appointments help dentists to ensure your child’s teeth, gums and jaws are developing properly, catch early dental issues while they’re easy to treat, and teach kids on the minute mistakes they make while brushing their teeth.

If regular dental checkups in the clinics are not possible, you could also try downloading the DentalDost app and scan your child’s teeth for any dental issues. You can also tele consult with dentists at DentalDost to know more about child dental care and fluoride treatments for your child.

This year, make sure establishing a Dental Home is on your list of to-do, especially if your child has already had their first birthday.

Highlights:

• Schedule your child’s first Pediatric dental visit to establish a Dental Home.
• Read your child a story about a character who had a good dental visit. 
• Encourage food for healthy teeth.
• Visit your Pediatric dentist regularly.
• Have kids brush at least twice a day. Making oral hygiene for kids really fun is one of the best resolutions for kids.
• Invest in water flossers and mouthguards for your child and get them into the habit of using them.
• Encourage food for healthy teeth.
• Visit your Pediatric dentist regularly