Two Ways Parents Can Improve Their Children’s Smiles at Home

We teach our children to count, spell, and look both ways before crossing the street. To make sure their young smiles stay healthy and clean, we take our little ones to regular checkups with a caring family dentist. Between dental visits, parents can take these simple steps to help their kids maintain healthy teeth and gums. 

1. Lead by Example

Your children may follow your verbal instructions, but your actions speak louder than words. If you constantly remind your little ones to brush their teeth but they never see you caring for your smile, then the lesson may not have the same impact. At least once a day, make tooth-time a family event. During your daily dental hygiene routine, you can keep an eye on your child’s technique and make sure they brush for at least two minutes (two good habits that unattended children often don’t develop). Taking the time to work with your child will let them know that you care about their health and wellbeing.

2. Stock a Smile-Friendly Pantry

Even though we’re eating out more now than in past years, the average American child eats the majority of their meals and snacks at home. Therefore, as the person who brings food into the home, you have direct control over the quality of drinks, meals, and snacks your child consumes. If you stock your pantry with sports drinks, sodas, snack cakes, and gummy fruit-flavored snacks every week, then you may be increasing your child’s risk for developing tooth decay. On the other hand, making sure smile-friendly snacks and drinks are readily available sets the stage for a good report at your child’s next checkups. A few tips to help you get started include:

• Ditch the bottled water, sports drinks, and sodas. Invest in a few reusable bottles, fill them from the tap, and store them in the fridge. Voila! Cold fluoridated water anytime your child feels thirsty!
• Cheese, please. Always have easy-to-eat cheese snacks on hand. Individually wrapped string cheese is a classic children’s favorite. If you prefer to do it yourself, buy a block of cheese, cut it into small cubes, and store them in resealable plastic containers for easy snacking.
• Crunch power. Veggie sticks and nuts contain vital nutrients and are healthy for little teeth. Cut up celery, carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers and store them in zip-top bags for snacking on the go. When choosing nuts, opt for varieties that do not contain sugar. For children with nut allergies, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds make a great alternative.

About Dr. Mark Miller

At Snow Park Dental, Dr. Miller provides the preventive and restorative dental care your family needs to enjoy optimal oral health. Contact us today at (505) 596-4479 to schedule a consultation or appointment at our Albuquerque, NM dentist’s office. We proudly serve families from Rio Rancho, Corrales, Edgewood, Tijeras, Los Lunas, and surrounding communities.

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