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The back-to-school season is tough for many reasons, especially for parents. Along with getting themselves back into a routine, they have to teach their kids to do the same. If you’re a parent, oral hygiene may be on your mind especially if getting your child to brush this morning was a little more difficult than expected. This part of your morning shouldn’t be burdensome. Thankfully, we’ve got some tips that will make helping your child maintain a healthy mouth a breeze.

Follow these three tips to make this aspect of your child’s daily routine simpler and to help him maintain a healthy smile:

1. Stay consistent

If routines are important for adults, just imagine how important they are for children. Take time to sit down with your child to create a morning routine and stick with the plan. Allowing your little one some input will make it much easier! So, whether the two of you decide brushing takes place before or after breakfast, make it happen every day without exception (at least as much as possible).

According to an article in Psychology Today, it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit. So don’t be surprised if your child is struggling to stay consistent three weeks in. Keep pushing forward! The author also explains that missing a day here and there shouldn’t completely derail the new routine, so don’t get discouraged on the difficult days.

2. Make brushing fun

A major way to encourage your child to stick with their oral hygiene routine is to make it fun (yes, brushing teeth CAN be fun)! This could be as simple as brushing your teeth together or providing positive reinforcement every time your child brushes.

We also recommend that parents let their children pick out a fun toothbrush with their favorite tv show character or color and choose their flavor of toothpaste. These will give him or her something to look forward to in the morning.

If these ideas aren’t enough, a distraction might be just the ticket. Allow your child to watch a two-minute video while brushing. He will enjoy the extra screen time and you’ll enjoy how easy it is to get him to brush!

For more ideas on how to make oral hygiene fun and effective, check out this blog.

3. Pack healthy lunches

Offering your child a healthy lunch or after-school snack may be one of the best things you can do for his or her oral health. Fruits and veggies, high protein foods, and high calcium foods are essential to keeping their teeth and gums healthy because the nutrients support strong bones, create a protective barrier around the teeth, and support gum health.

Try to avoid sugary foods and snacks as much as possible as these create an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth that leads to decay and disease. Your child’s teacher will also thank you for it!

We offer numerous mouth-healthy lunch and snack ideas in this blog!

Back-to-School Pro Tip: Visit a Pediatric Dentist

It’s never too late to take your child to the dentist. While it may be a little more inconvenient during the school year, if he or she hasn’t attended a regular dental cleaning and exam in the past six months, now is the time.

Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Matt, would love to visit with you and your little one at our Overland Park dentist’s office. Call us today at (913) 685-9990 to schedule an appointment.

Smiles Dentistry For Kids

14700 Metcalf Ave, Suite 110
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913) 685-9990
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
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Friday
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
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Along with practicing good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing, parents must encourage their children to eat a nutritious diet that promotes strong teeth and healthy gums. This process is much easier when parents focus on providing nutritious meals for their child at a young age because he or she will begin to crave nutritious foods instead of unhealthy ones. Just like with adults, children can become addicted to sugary foods that lead to cavities and gum disease. Because of this, it’s best to stay away from sugar-laden snacks, drinks, and candy.

If you’re having a hard time convincing your child to eat his fruits and veggies, we’re here to help! Our pediatric dentist knows what kids like and how parents can encourage healthy eating habits without all the drama.

Here are three categories of delicious and nutritious snack ideas that all (okay, most) kids love:

1. Fruits and veggies

Fruits and veggies aren’t just simple snacks, they promote mouth health in several ways. Oranges, broccoli, green and red peppers, leafy greens, and strawberries contain high levels of Vitamin C that protect the teeth and gums from disease-causing bacteria and cell damage. Crispy fruits and uncooked veggies also help clean plaque from teeth.

It may be difficult to get your little one to eat plain fruits and veggies. We recommend providing a yogurt fruit dip or ranch dressing for dipping that will make these foods irresistible!

Here are more ways to serve fruits and veggies:

  • Zucchini chips
  • Sweet potato chips
  • Kale chips
  • Guacamole with pita wedges
  • Pepper nachos
  • Hummus
  • Celery and apples with low-sugar peanut butter
  • Peanut butter and banana sandwich
  • Fresh fruit smoothie

2. Protein

Many of the same foods that contain protein also contain phosphorous, both of which protect and rebuild tooth enamel. You’ll find these nutrients in red meats, chicken, fish, milk, and eggs.

Here are some high protein snacks your child will love:

  • Jerky, salami, and pepperoni
  • Sliced turkey or ham
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Greek yogurt
  • Hummus
  • Edamame
  • Oven-baked onion rings
  • Roasted chickpeas

Though protein bars are convenient—and let’s face it, all kids love them—they are usually very high in sugar.  It’s better for children and adults to get their protein from more natural sources like those we listed above.

3. Calcium

We all know that milk supports strong bones, but did you know that includes teeth? Furthermore, milk creates a protective barrier so that disease-causing bacteria can’t infiltrate the teeth and gums. So, while we recommend children drink mostly water throughout the day, a glass or two of milk is definitely beneficial.

In addition to milk, there are several other calcium-rich foods for your little one to snack on throughout the day, including:

  • String cheese
  • Almonds
  • Yogurt
  • Fortified orange juice
  • Apples and almond butter
  • Blueberries and cottage cheese
  • Yogurt and fruit parfaits
  • Scrambled eggs with cheese

Foods to Avoid

The key to helping your child maintain good oral health is to avoid sugar as much as possible. Eating too much sugar is one of the main causes of cavities, and contributes to childhood obesity and malnutrition.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to spot sugar on a food label. It may be disguised as “high fructose corn syrup”, “rice syrup”, “fructose”, “sucrose”, and several other names. To learn more about how sugar affects your child and its many names, check out this blog.

Learn More from Our Pediatric Dentist

If you’d like to know more about how to ensure your little one grows up with a healthy, beautiful smile, call our friendly dental team today at (913) 685-9990 to schedule an initial consultation with our pediatric dentist, Dr. Matt.

Smiles Dentistry For Kids

14700 Metcalf Ave, Suite 110
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913) 685-9990
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm

Get in Touch

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From holding their own bottle and walking without holding your hand to their first day of school, children become independent so quickly! As difficult as it can be for a parent, teaching children to do things on their own is a good thing. Independence helps develop problem-solving skills and self-confidence.

Most children are ready to brush their teeth by themselves around the same time they learn to tie their shoes. Proper brushing techniques are necessary for helping your child maintain good oral health. Those baby teeth need to be taken care of! And good habits should be formed while they’re young.

So, where do you begin? Check out these four useful tips on teeth brushing for teaching your little one how to brush his or her teeth properly. 

Teeth Brushing Tip #1: Talk to your pediatric dentist

Pediatric dentists are specially trained to treat and care for children’s mouths. All those years of dental school and additional training don’t just benefit your child, they benefit you as well! Your pediatric dentist is happy to discuss any questions you may have about your child’s oral health. They are especially helpful when it comes to teaching your child the right way to brush his or her teeth.

Here are some things you should ask your pediatric dentist about:

  • The proper brushing technique
  • The right types of toothpaste
  • The use of fluoride
  • How to explain the importance of brushing to a child

Additionally, a pediatric dentist can answer any questions regarding flossing, dental sealants, and mouthguards.

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Matt is more than happy to sit down with you to discuss your child’s oral health and oral hygiene routine.

Teeth Brushing Tip #2: Lead by example

A show and tell session is one of the best things to do before letting your child brush on her own. Have her watch as you brush your teeth so she knows exactly what it should look like.

Be sure to brush for two minutes and try to explain what you’re doing as you go.

Teeth Brushing Tip #3: Technique

Once you’ve learned everything you can from your pediatric dentist and have shown your child exactly how brushing is done, it’s time to teach it to your little one! Explain that we should brush our teeth for two minutes in the morning and two minutes in the evening. Then, make sure you use these guidelines:

  • Put a pea-sized drop of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush
  • Start with the teeth in the back of the mouth and work your way forward
  • Brush the top, front, and back sides of each tooth in little circles
  • Don’t forget your gums and tongue!
  • Spit out all the toothpaste and rinse

If you need a little help explaining the proper brushing technique in a fun, kid-friendly way, check out this video!

Teeth Brushing Tip #4: Make it fun

We know it isn’t always easy to teach your kids to brush their teeth, but these fun tips for teeth brushing can make an enormous difference:

  • Take him/her to the store to pick out a fun toothbrush and yummy-flavored toothpaste
  • Play a two-minute song or video
  • Brush together
  • Offer a reward

For more useful tips for teeth brushing, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist near you today. To meet with Dr. Matt, call our friendly dental team at (913) 685-9990.

Smiles Dentistry For Kids

14700 Metcalf Ave, Suite 110
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913) 685-9990
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm
8:00am - 4:30pm

Get in Touch

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