2023 Goals

It is natural at the beginning of any new year to make resolutions. We may make resolutions to improve ourselves or our circumstances, we may make resolutions to spend more time with those we love, or we may make resolutions to do right by our family and friends.

Specifically, we may have resolutions relating to our children. You may want to start making time to read with them every day or allow them to pick a fun outdoor activity once or twice a month to get out from behind a screen. At Dr. Beanca Chu Children's Dentistry, we have an idea for another resolution—making your child's dental care a priority.

In our busy day-to-day lives, it can be hard to keep up with everything. However, your child's dental health is something that is vital for their well-being. By putting just a few routines in place, you can ensure that your child will have healthy teeth and will learn good dental hygiene practices.

Getting Started – Dental Care for Your Baby

If you have a newborn, your life is hectic! You have to juggle many things all at once—and that's true whether this is your first child or your third. It can be hard to remember your infant's teeth when they haven't even started to come in. It's important to take care of your child's mouth from the moment they are born. By getting into the habit of using a damp warm cloth to clean out your baby's mouth after every feeding, you will be helping to keep bacteria from forming and making your child sick. Try keeping a cloth where you generally feed the baby to remind yourself of this task—or make it your partner's job when feeding is done.

Once your baby's teeth begin coming in, you can make brushing a part of the daily routine. You can use an infant-sized brush with a small head and soft bristles along with just a smear of toothpaste to brush your baby's teeth. Even baby teeth can get cavities, so brushing a couple of times a day—make one the final feeding before bed—can prevent your little one from having decay form on one of their brand new teeth. As your child grows older, having these routines in place will make it easier to ease them into taking charge of their own dental care.

Your Child and Dental Goals

Even kids like to make resolutions and set goals. You can play a part in making sure those goals are met. As kids become toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged, they become more and more independent. Be aware that it will still take them time to gain the manual dexterity needed to correctly clean their teeth. You will need to be involved in their daily brushing. You may think there's no time for this, but there are ways to build these vital routines into your family's schedule.

You have to brush your teeth too! Why not make time for family brushing? Put on some music and show your kids how it's done. Modeling is an effective way to teach your children valuable skills—they'll want to do it just like you. If you're brushing at the same time as your kids, you can keep an eye on what they're doing while taking care of your own dental hygiene. Have you considered a reward system to help your kids reach their dental goals? Brushing twice a day can get old really fast for some kids. Offering some motivation may be just what's needed to keep them on track.

Hang a sticker chart somewhere the kids can see it and add a sticker every time they brush and floss and every time they have a successful dental appointment. Set a sticker goal, and when they reach it, offer a reward. Maybe your child gets to pick the movie everyone watches that night or gets an extra fifteen minutes of screen time. Just don't make the rewards sugar-based!

Don't forget to bring the fun. Allow your child to choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste. There are toothbrushes in an array of colors and featuring a wide range of favorite characters. Toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors. If your child has picked out their own brushing equipment, they will be more likely to be willing to brush and floss every day.

Teens in the House

Your pre-teens and teenagers should have dental goals too. These are the years in which braces or Invisalign Teen may be necessary to straighten out any crooked teeth or correct a bite that is misaligned. This can be challenging for many kids, both in terms of dealing with dietary restrictions and in dealing with keeping their appliances clean.

When kids have braces, there are a lot of foods they cannot have, including popcorn, nuts, pretzels, and gum, to name just a few. This can be hard on a kid, so be sure to have plenty of the foods they can eat around for meals and snacking.

Keeping their teeth and gums clean is important for any kid, but especially for one with braces. Just as you can with a younger child, you can set up a reward system for teens for keeping up with their dental hygiene. You'll want to discuss with them what time frame you want to set goals for (weekly, monthly) and what type of rewards they would like to work toward (a trip to Starbucks, extra time before curfew, a special night out, etc.).

Don't forget the routine trips to the dentists for your pre-teens and teens—braced or not. Keeping up with periodic dental exams and cleanings will help to set your kids up for success when they must make these appointments for themselves as they become young adults.

Make 2023 the Best Year Yet

Your child's dental care should be a priority no matter how old they are—and you can be the key to making sure their dental goals are met or exceeded.

Are you happy with your pediatric dentist? Do you feel like they can help you and your child meet those dental goals? Here at Dr. Beanca Chu Children's Dentistry, your child's dental goals are our top priority! Make an appointment to visit our office today and learn more about how we can help you and your child hit your goals in 2023.