Want your Children to Practice Good Dental Hygiene

children practice good dental hygieneScotts Valley and Santa Cruz, CA

Where do you think your children look for role models? Usually, the first place they look is in their own home. As parents, you should be setting good examples of behavior—whether that means eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables or maintaining your own dental health. Your Santa Cruz family dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry have supplied these tips to help you be a role model of good dental hygiene for your children.

Young children learn best through play

Put this lesson to work in the home and make tooth-brushing time a fun time for your child. Involve your child in the process by letting them pick out their own toothbrush at the store. Then, consider picking up toothpaste in a child-friendly flavor. You also can use your child’s favorite song as a timer to make sure they brush for the recommended two minutes.

Children respond well to reward systems

One good strategy is to set up a motivational chart and award a sticker to your child each time he or she brushes their teeth for the recommended two minutes. Then, consider giving your child a reward after they earn a certain number of stickers. The reward doesn’t have to cost much or anything at all. It could be that you reward your child with a trip to the park or by spending extra time with them reading before bed.

Educate your children

Find educational materials to help your children learn about the importance of dental health. These materials could include children’s books on tooth brushing, cavities, and going to the dentist; educational videos or even mobile apps that encourage children to practice good dental hygiene. Your Scotts Valley family dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry also may be able to suggest some good resources that can be found online.

Prepare for those visits to the dentist

Going to the dentist can be a stressful and potentially frightening experience for young children, but these dental visits are crucial to maintaining good oral health. You can prepare your child by discussing what happens during a dental check-up. Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry also welcomes patients to bring children to our Scotts Valley office ahead of their appointment so they can meet our dentists, Dr. Ariana Ebrahimian and Dr. Max Ebrahimian. We also welcome nervous children to bring a comfort object like a blanket or stuffed animal to their appointment. Remember that your children will pick up on your mood; any nervousness you feel likely will be exhibited by your child as well. Stay positive and confident with your children during any conversations with your dentist.

Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry also offers sedation dentistry via nitrous oxide for patients of any age who feel extreme nervousness or fear over going to the dentist. Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide has been known to cause nausea in children, so we ask parents to limit consumption of food and drink prior to the appointment. To learn more about our program of pediatric dentistry in Scotts Valley, contact our office by calling (831) 438-4411 to schedule a consultation.

Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry provides total oral health care for patients located in the California communities of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley.