Oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people. If you want to keep your child happy and healthy, you need to consider their dental hygiene. Otherwise, they could develop a serious oral health condition. 

In fact, about 530 million children suffer from primary teeth cavities. Another 2.3 billion people suffer from cavities in their permanent teeth.



Learn how to take care of kids' teeth with these eight tips! Using this dental hygiene guide for parents, you can brush up on the entire family's oral health. Get started with these eight tips today. 

1. Make It a Family Affair

2. Sing a Song

Help your child get excited about their dental hygiene with a fun sing-along song.

Choose a song your child already loves. Then, play it in the bathroom while they're brushing their teeth. Choose a song that's about two minutes.

Your child can brush, floss, sing, and dance while keeping their teeth clean.

At the same time, the music can work as a timer to remind them they need to brush for at least two minutes.



Join in on the fun. Dance around with your child while brushing, too!

3. Improve Their Diet

Dental hygiene isn't solely about brushing and flossing. If you want to learn how to take care of kids' teeth, consider every factor. What are they eating each day?

Your child's diet could impact their oral health. First, try to minimize foods that are bad for their teeth. These include foods that are high in sugar, like candy, ice cream, and sweets.

Sugar can destroy the outer layer of their teeth, or enamel. Over time, sugar can cause tooth decay and lead cavities to form.

Instead, focus on adding foods that are beneficial to your child's oral hygiene. These include:

• Lean proteins
• Yogurt and cheese
• Apples
• Nuts
• Leafy greens
• Celery
• Carrots

Cheese, yogurt, and milk can help the body produce more saliva. Saliva can fight germs to keep the teeth clean.

Yogurt and cheese are also high in protein and calcium, which could strengthen your child's teeth. Meanwhile, yogurt contains probiotics, which can help your child's immune system.

Don't forget your child's veggies. Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals. They can stimulate saliva production to keep enamel healthy. 



Consider what your children are drinking, too. Juice and soda are high in sugar. Sugar can feed the bacteria in your child's mouth.

Instead, have them drink plenty of water. 

4. Choose the Right Products

Is your child bored with their same old toothbrush? Maybe their toothbrush is too big in their hands. Consider looking into oral care products that are designed with kids in mind. 

If your child likes their brush, they're more likely to use it.

Consider finding a singing toothbrush, too. Instead of playing music, you can use the singing brush to make sure they finish the full two minutes. 

There are also brushes with heroes, princesses, and other fun characters on them.



Don't forget to consider the toothpaste your child is using, too. Talk to your dentist about the best fluoride toothpaste for children. Fluoride can help reduce the risk of your child developing cavities. 

5. Offer Rewards

Use a reward system when teaching dental hygiene for kids. For example, you can give your child a sticker or gold star each time they brush and floss. Using incentives can help them develop long-term, healthy oral habits. 



Start with smaller rewards. Once your child completes a full week of brushing, give them a slightly bigger reward. Try to choose rewards that aren't candy.

6. Make It a Game

Try to combine flossing, brushing, and playing to make dental hygiene a fun experience for your child. 

For example, you can have your child use their old toothbrush to replace a paintbrush. Have them paint and see what they create!



You can also look for fun games online. Try different oral health games to see which ones your children enjoy the most!

7. Use Positive Feedback

One of the best ways to learn how to teach children good dental habits is through positive feedback. Children want to hear they're doing a good job. Show your child you're proud of them.

When they start brushing on their own (without prompting), voice your enthusiasm.



Giving your child positive feedback will encourage them to keep brushing and flossing.

8. Check In With the Dentist

About 86% of children have visited the dentist in the past year. Don't forget regular check-ups. Your child's dentist can assess the state of their teeth. 

Make visiting the dentist a fun experience. Suggest going out for lunch after your check-up. Find fun ways to reduce your child's dental anxiety.



When the dentist gives them an all-clear, reward your child for having zero cavities. 

Brush Up: 8 Fun Ways to Teach Kids Healthy Dental Hygiene Habits

Ready to prioritize your child's dental hygiene this year? Give the tips in this dental hygiene guide for parents a try. With these tips, you can minimize cavities and make brushing a stress-free activity. 

Need to schedule your child's next check-up? We're here to help. 



Contact us today to get started.