Physical features are often a key factor in making a first impression. People evaluate others based on their body language, tone of voice, musculature, and other genetically inherited traits. A person may not be able to run from their genetics, but there is one feature of the body that a person can drastically enhance their smile. This is especially true for young children.
Adults love to see a child beaming with a bright smile in moments of sheer happiness and there is nothing that warms the heart more than seeing a child laugh. It is a parent’s responsibility to teach kids about good oral hygiene, so that they can bare a beautiful smile for rest of their life. When a parent teaches a child about maintaining their oral health at a young age, a child is more likely to continue to practice those methods as they grow up.
A beautiful smile will aid a child later in life in making first impressions, pursuing a career, building relationships, and in growing their own self-esteem.
Make brushing a fun activity for your child – Children should brush their teeth at least twice daily. These two main brushing sessions should occur before breakfast and sometime after the last meal of the day. An adequate brushing should last about three minutes. In a child’s mind, brushing for three minutes can feel like a lifetime. Parents should make the experience as light as possible. Let the child pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Play brushing games with the child, such as having them mirror you as you brush. Maybe play some music as they brush and have them brush to the rhythm. A brushing session is also a great time to tell a child about the importance of keeping their teeth and mouth healthy, as well as the risks of bad oral hygiene.
Make the dentist a good guy in your child’s eyes – A parent should make sure that their child visits the dentist on a regular basis for cleaning and a check up every six months. Visiting the dentist can be an intimidating event for a child, especially when it is for the first time. If the child is very young and it is their first trip, make a big deal out of the event. Pretend that the dentist is a wise hero that the child is going to get to meet. Cue the dentist in on the storyline and they will probably be happy to play along. Explain to the child that the dentist is going to clean their mouth, so that it will be protected from the evil villains Cavity and Gingivitis. It will feel like a real life adventure for the child and an experience they will probably will look forward too again.
Help your child follow a healthy diet – Serve a child healthy food on a regular basis. Soft drinks and sweets can erode enamel, cause cavities, and promote plaque build-up. A parent should be serving children healthy food anyway to promote growth and physical well-being, but many do not realize how important diet is to oral health as well. Treat soft drinks and sweets as delicacies to be enjoyed by your children on occasion, not as staples of their everyday dietary needs.
Consider braces for your child – If your child has an overbite or crooked teeth, it is a good idea to make an appointment with an orthodontist. Braces are employed to straighten the teeth and to properly align the jaw. Teeth that are crooked or crowded together make proper cleaning difficult. This can lead to those oral health problems discussed earlier. Straightening a child’s teeth can work wonders for their self-image and confidence. When the braces are finally removed, children are often eager to reveal their newly straightened, beautiful smile to anyone willing to look their way. Braces are a great investment in your child’s health and well-being with results that will continually pay off into their bright future.
– Jonny Webber is a freelance writer from Manchester who creates content on health, fitness and eco-living. To find out more information on oral hygiene and dental braces visit www.braces.org.uk