Children learn a lot during the month of February. Not only is it Black History Month, but figuring out how to deal with Valentine’s Day can also be enlightening as well (“Should I give a piece of candy to one special person or the entire class?”). On top of this, it is also National Children’s Dental Health Month, which serves to highlight the unique needs of growing smiles while also empowering the parents who take care of them. Fortunately, some of the most effective things you can do to protect your little one from cavities are also the simplest—here are 4 of them you can start using tonight!

1. Turn Brushing Into Party Time

Countless parents have had the experience of telling their child to go brush their teeth, and then they come back about 10 seconds later claiming to be done. On the flip side, others have spent several cumulative hours watching over their child while they brush to ensure they don’t miss anything. Both of these approaches, while effective and often necessary, aren’t exactly fun for anyone. Thankfully, there is another way—brush at the same time as your child!

This serves two purposes. Firstly, you model the behavior you want your child to follow, and two, it makes them feel included, which little kids absolutely love. This will help instill the habit in a positive way while also allowing you to still keep an eye on your little one while they are solidifying their oral hygiene routine.

2. A Little Praise Goes a Long Way

As you’re brushing alongside your child, several studies have shown that praising them will make them more likely to do it consistently AND also use the right technique. Specifically, complimenting their effort (“Way to reach those back teeth!”) seems to work much better than focusing on smaller details like how they are holding or moving the brush. Like the previous point, this turns brushing into a fun bonding experience as opposed to a chore.

3. Watch Out for SSBs

We live in a world surrounded by SSBs, which stands for “sugar-sweetened beverages.” These are items like sodas, sports drinks, and fruit juices that contain a lot of added sugar. When they are consumed, they provide “premium fuel” for the bacteria that are responsible for cavities and gum disease, so they shouldn’t be a regular part of anyone’s daily diet. Basically, it’s best to treat them just like candy. Whenever your child is thirsty, unflavored water will always be the best choice for both their smile and body.

4. Enjoy Expert Support

While most parents know that they should bring their child to their dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months, what most don’t think about is how they can take advantage of their expertise between visits. If you have a question about your child’s teeth, or if they are experiencing a dental problem, you can always just pick up the phone and call their dentist. Providing education is a big part of what dentists do, and rather than searching for answers on the internet (which often just leads to more questions), you can get information personalized to your child directly from an expert. This will certainly give you more peace of mind compared to reading through Wikipedia or WebMD!

About the Practice

Dr. Krysten Jackson and Dr. Eric Parsons are family and cosmetic dentists who graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Dr. Jackson completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program there, which is considered to be one of the most elite residencies in the country. Dr. Parsons regularly trains to use the latest technology to offer the most advanced methods of treatment. When it comes to protecting your child’s smile, they are eager to do their part and make sure you’re never caught off guard by a cavity or gum disease. To schedule their next checkup and cleaning at El Reno Family Dentistry, simply click here.