It has been a long time coming, but children have finally started back at school. After the long summer holidays and months of home-schooling due to the Coronavirus lockdown, it is finally time to get back to the normal routine, including the daily oral health regime that might have become neglected.
With regular routines being thrown out of sync over recent months, it is not surprising that many families have found it difficult to get children to remember to brush their teeth. Or, perhaps snacking has become more prevalent in your household - anything to make the homeschooling easier! Whatever the reason, we have all done what we can to survive the last few months and thankfully now, with children getting up early for school again and the daily routine falling back into place, it is easier to reinforce those oral health messages that we like to remind you all of at this time of year.
So please read on for our back to school oral health tips for kids and help us to help you to look after your family’s smiles:
Start early
As with all routines in life, the earlier you get used to them, the sooner they become part of your everyday regime and something you do without even thinking about. As soon as your baby’s teeth come through you should start brushing them twice a day. Getting this routine started early will make it easier for you to keep your children’s oral health on track as they grow older.
Make brushing time fun
Your kids are going to have to do it twice a day for the rest of their lives, so you might as well make it fun! Brushing your teeth can seem like an arduous task when there are so many other exciting things you could be doing, but turning it into a game can make it so much more appealing. Try brushing your teeth to music, pick your children’s favourite tunes and if you can find or edit a track that is 2 minutes long, then you also have a built in timer. Choose character toothbrushes and get your child to name them to bring brushing time alive.
Get your child involved in role play by asking them to brush their toys’ teeth, just remember to use a different toothbrush so they don’t destroy theirs!
Reward charts are also another great way to encourage children to brush their teeth twice a day. Tot up the stickers at the end of the week or month for a small reward such as a new book.
Remember to supervise your child’s brushing until they are at least seven years old, this is to make sure they are brushing correctly and using the right amount of toothpaste.
Think ahead with lunch boxes
Good oral health isn’t just about brushing twice a day and choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste, it is also about making healthy eating decisions. If your child has a packed lunch at school, this the ideal opportunity to include some tooth friendly snacks. This might include cubes of cheese, vegetable sticks, pots of yoghurt and drinks cartons that use a straw. Think ahead and pack lunch boxes the night before to save that mad morning rush.
Book now for your child’s dental check up
Our dental practice is open for all routine appointments, so if your child is due for a check up please do contact us on 0800 0154 222 to make an appointment or click here to send us a message. To find out what measures we are taking to make your visit safe please click here.
