Attention Dads! You are your child’s Hero

With Father’s Day fast approaching, we thought we would celebrate Dads everywhere with a quick reminder of just how important you are to your children. They look up to you, imitate your every move and want to grow up to be just like you. It is down to you to be a great role model in everything you do and this includes daily brushing and flossing.

As a father you are responsible for teaching them important lessons that will hopefully stay with them for life. If you show them how to take care of their teeth, then they will definitely thank you in the years ahead, as a healthy and attractive smile is a huge asset.

Tips for teaching your kids great dental habits

• Clean your teeth at the same time as them, morning and night. If you lead by example then children will soon learn they need to brush twice a day and they will know that it is not okay to go to bed without brushing or flossing. It is also a great way to have some fun with your kids, as they can copy your tooth brushing moves or you could even let them clean your teeth, guiding their actions so they get the idea of how to do it properly.
• Talk to your child about why oral health is important. We can help by chatting with them to explain why they need to take care of their teeth using words that are very easy for them to understand. Chatham Dental Centre can also suggest some kids’ books or websites that may be helpful. Another thing we can do is to demonstrate the proper tooth brushing techniques to them and we have a few tricks to make this fun and interesting.
• Eat healthily as diet makes a huge difference to oral health. We certainly don’t suggest cutting out all sweet treats, as everything in moderation is fine. However eating a healthy diet can help educate young taste buds to enjoy less sweet foods that are naturally good for them, so they can grow up making the right food choices for their dental health and their general health. Want more advice on tooth friendly diets? Just ask us as we are here to help.
• Don’t dodge dental visits and please try to talk about us in positive terms! We do see adults who have learned to fear the dentist from their parents who may have had their own bad experiences. If you or your child feels nervous about the prospect of coming to see us then please let us know. We are all very friendly and you will find our dentist Dr. James Cadigan is great at helping nervous patients to relax and overcome their fears.

We hope you enjoy your special day with your family and that it is a time filled with heathy and happy smiles and some wonderful new memories.