Making the most of family dentistry in Michigan
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Teaching children the importance of good oral hygiene is not as straightforward as it may seem. These little people are not concerned about tooth decay or gum disease, they are more interested in fun activities that stimulate their senses. When parents pay close attention to their children's natural tendencies, they can come up with creative ways to build strong habits without their child knowing oral hygiene is a health-giving chore. To encourage your child, start early and try some creative processes such as the following.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Children are like "Mini-Me's," wanting to do everything that their parents do, in precisely the same way. Using this natural tendency before it vanishes forever; parents can carry out oral hygiene practices in the presence of small children. This sends non-verbal communication to your child that teeth and gums are important to health and should be taken care of. Including your child by telling them what you are doing, and showing them how to do it for themselves, goes a long way in helping them maintain healthy teeth and gums in between their visits to our family dentistry Michigan practice.All in a Day's Work
For children, their work is to play. Therefore, making oral hygiene a fun process is an ideal way to encourage them to keep up the good work. Games work great with young children who have yet to take over brushing and flossing for themselves. To keep your child interested during the recommended two-minute brushing sessions, tell him or her a story that relates to teeth. Another idea could be to find a "tooth monster" or other character that is running away from the toothbrush. Just be sure that this character is one your child will be happy to see eliminated!These are just two ideas to help you encourage your child to develop good oral hygiene practices. For more, speak with Dr. B. during your next visit to our family dentistry practice in Michigan.
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