Visiting your family dentists in Alexandria, Virginia can help save your children’s smiles
The health of your children is very important, and so is their dental health. A vital step in ensuring your children enjoy healthy smiles is teaching them proper dental habits. Regular visits to your family dentist can help. The family dentists at Gibberman Dental in Alexandria, Virginia offer a wide range of family dental care services, including dental services for your children.
So, what should you be teaching your children about proper dental habits? First, let them know how important it is to remove the plaque on their teeth. Plaque is filled with bacteria that can destroy smiles. Pediatric dentists often refer to plaque bacteria as “tooth bugs.”
Next, show them how to remove the plaque by brushing after meals and before bed. Demonstrate:
Gentle brushing in a circular motion, covering all the surfaces of the teeth and along the gumline. Always use a toothpaste containing fluoride for extra protection against tooth decay. Then, have your children demonstrate the technique back to you.
Next, show your children how to floss. Flossing can be taught when your child is around the age of 4, and your children should be able to floss without your help when they are about 8 years old.
It’s often helpful for kids to use a flossing tool. They come in kid-friendly shapes like dinosaurs and can help make flossing fun. Show your children how to wrap the floss around the tooth as they go down in between teeth. Then, have them demonstrate the technique back to you.
Don’t forget to set a great example for your children. When they see you brushing after meals and before bed, and flossing every day, it reinforces how important brushing and flossing are.
Regular visits to your family dentist need to start early. A child is at risk of tooth decay the minute the first primary tooth erupts in the mouth. A first visit when your child is young helps to prevent tooth decay and other dental problems later on.
A first visit should happen when your child is about 2 to 3 years old. This is a very important appointment because it helps forge comfort between your child and your family dentist, so appointments can be calm and relaxing later on.
Teaching proper dental habits and visiting your family dentist is vital to helping your children enjoy healthy smiles. To find out more about family dentistry services, call the family dentists of Gibberman Dental in Alexandria, Virginia at 703-823-6616. Call today!