National Children’s Dental Health Month is a great reminder to teach our kids about oral health. This month, you can help your child in deeply profound ways simply by striking up a conversation with him or her about dentistry or something related to what goes on in their mouth. Dedicate a few minutes over breakfast, or the car ride home one day from school and make it a point to teach them something they don’t know.
In our blog post this week, we’re going to give you three simple ideas you can use to bring up dentistry with your kids:
Share Some Dental Facts with Them
We certainly don’t consider ourselves psychologists, but we’ve worked with enough kids to know some basic principles about how their minds work. Kids, especially younger ones, love to show off to their friends and adults when they’ve learned something interesting and new to them. Trust us, our younger patients are always sharing what they learned in school or read in a book when they’re in our chair. Surf the Internet and find a few interesting dental facts you know they’ll love to share. You’ll hopefully not only teach them something useful, but also get them curious to learn more.
Explain to Them What Goes when They Visit the Dentist
Most adult fears of the dentist are rooted in bad childhood experiences. We believe that many of these bad childhood experiences could be mitigated simply by calming kids’ fears of the unknown and explaining to them what’s going on when they visit the dentist. And, we encourage this to be a partnership between you and your dentist. If you’re unsure of how to explain it, ask your dentist to explain the procedure, whether it’s a simple cleaning or complex restoration, in simple terms so you can relay it to your child. When your child knows what’s next in the dentist’s chair and what the tools are used for, they’ll seem less scary and there's less reason to be anxious. This is also a great way to explain the important role of a dentist in your child’s health care so they know why they need regular cleanings and exams as they grow and make important decisions for themselves.
Have Your Child Count Their Teeth and Explain What Each Type is Used For
This is a fun activity to do with your child that teaches them several different important things, especially if they’re young and learning how to count. Take it a step further, though, and explain what the different types of teeth are used for. If they know how a molar and incisor are used to crush and cut their food, it will make them more mindful of keeping their teeth healthy.
Thanks for Reading!
We appreciate you stopping by our blog and hope our posts during National Children’s Dental Health Month help you talk with your kids about how important it is to take care of their oral health. If you enjoy our dental tips, facts, and news, please like or share our Facebook page.