2021 Dental Health for Your Children and Resolutions

We made it to 2021 and hopefully 2020 is finally behind us.  For most, the resolutions we made in 2020 quickly went by the waist side when Covid-19 arrived.  Now that 2021 has begun, many of us are thinking of ways to improve on the choices we optimistically made in 2020.  Whether we loudly pronounce them or resonate mentally, New Year’s resolutions become a hot topic this time of year.  The tempting idea of a fresh start is frequently enough to motivate effective change.

One of the most common resolutions is one of better health.  Better health can cover a wide range including habits, growth, and health.  Even with health-related resolutions, they can easily be forgotten or neglected.

One such health-related area is the maintenance of good oral health, which is important to achieving a good quality of life.  Unfortunately, the problem for some of us does not lie in our readiness to make changes, but in knowing where to begin.  This is also true when we refocus our efforts on our children’s oral health.

The good news is there is much we can do to put our kids on the path to better oral health.  Let us look at a few of the things you can do.

Make an Appointment

The first step to a healthy 2021 should be to establish a good dental home.  It is extremely easy to have good intentions to provide your kids with regular dental care, but when proactivity lacks it can often cause this goal to die.  If your family does not already have a dentist, now is the ideal time to make a change.  Make it a priority to schedule an appointment, with Summerfield Family Dentistry, for your child with one of our board-approved dentists.

Lead by Example

One of the easiest ways to influence your child’s healthy habits is to lead by example.  Take the time to make sure your dental habits are exemplary, which is essential to getting kids on board with significant changes.  Yes, children model what they see and if you brush regularly, they will too.  Prioritizing dental visits will teach them the importance and going to Summerfield Family Dentistry together makes it even easier.

Supervised Brushing

Did you know that if a child cannot tie their shoes, they probably cannot brush their teeth?  Young children tend to lack the manual skill to successfully brush their teeth.  Supervising tooth-brushing will allow you to discover the areas your child may need help; allowing for the opportunity to step in when needed.

Fluoride!

Unfortunately, once sugar is in your kids’ diet, fluoride becomes necessary.  We recommend purchasing toothpaste and mouthwashes with cavity-fighting fluoride.

Speak Positively About the Dentist

Consciously painting a positive picture of your child’s dentist will make a huge difference.  It is counterproductive to scare them into taking care of their teeth because “The dentist is going to pull them out!”   Help your child understand by emphasizing dentists are doctors who are there to keep their teeth healthy and beautiful.  Stay away from any complex details that may make them fearful and remind them that we are there to do nothing but help.

Remember, Summerfield Family Dentistry is here to help with all your pediatric and family dentistry needs.  Yes, we are taking extra precautions to control the spread of Covid-19, but we are ready to help. To schedule a pediatric dental appointment with our team, please call Summerfield Family Dentistry’s office at (336)643-1440.