The New Year has us pause and look at the year to come and consider healthy changes. At least for me, years of making resolutions represented wishes and hopes that rarely became long-term habits. I began looking at the goals as promises versus resolutions, creating opportunities for commitment and true change. I also found that in bite-sized versions they were not so ambitious as to create failure, thus quitting all together; small changes that are built slowly over the entire year can feel less daunting. It is equally important that they are specific, achievable, measurable and relevant to your day-to-day lifestyle and routine.
Oral Hygiene Ideas for Change…
I suggest looking within three areas of your oral hygiene for changes you might consider “tweaking” for both you and your child – this could be feedback from a professional or information from an internet article that got your attention. Here are some ideas to get your brain started toward creating your own goals within specific personal challenges.
Nutrition
- Substitute. Substitute juice boxes and/or soft drinks in school lunches or dinners with water. Even cutting back on juice, sports drinks or soft drinks to just twice on the weekends can have a major impact. Once you reduce the amount of sugary drinks consumed, the cravings will lessen, and your child might even ask for water!
- Protein, protein, protein. Instead of chips/carb snacks, offer a protein-rich snack like yogurt, string cheese, a hardboiled egg, jerky or a package of nuts. Cut-up fruit or vegetables dipped in nut butters or hummus are also healthy alternatives to packaged crackers and chips.
- Breakfast. Making time for a sit-down breakfast of healthy proteins and good fats (avocado, whole milk yogurt, nut butter on toast) can give their brains a kick-start to a school day of learning and focus. A “nutrition” bar in the car is fast and easy but should be reserved for occasions when there is time for nothing else.
- Dress up your carbs. If they love cereal, try protein-rich cereals packed with fiber like oatmeal; add berries or raisins to create even more nutrition. Save the sweetened cereals (notice the first ingredient on the box is some form of sugar) for after a meal as dessert, so that it does not spike their blood sugar levels as much.
Flossing Daily
I find that flossing is a tremendous challenge for most of us. The typical response I get when I ask a patient what triggers them to remember to floss is when they eat chicken, corn or popcorn and feel it stuck between their teeth. Sometimes my silly come back to them is that I want them to eat popcorn every single day to ensure they floss!
One strategy might be to floss on weekdays and take weekends off. I find if done every other day, it is easy to lose track of remembering if you did it yesterday. Perhaps floss all the days that start with T or S, which would have them flossing four of seven days. Sticker charts can be helpful and next time you are in our office, we are happy to offer you one of ours! The goal is to floss more days than you do not, whatever creative ideas you want to try. When I began changing my own daily flossing routine, eventually my teeth did not feel completely clean unless they were flossed as well as brushed–that is our ultimate goal.
Brushing Twice a Day
Rushing off to school can present a time-crunch challenge, and sometimes things get dropped off the list in order to be on time for the walk, carpool or bus. Breakfast is eaten quickly as they rush out the door or grab a nutrition bar for the car. The morning brushing is often skipped thinking they have to brush after they eat. If teeth are brushed when getting up, dressing and before breakfast, you are removing the film of germs that accumulate on the teeth overnight. Then, after they eat, they can go on to school without stopping to brush again. It takes food plus bacteria to create the harmful acid production in your mouth for increased cavities, so taking away one of those two components even before eating will help! Nighttime routines are not quite as challenging so flossing first and then brushing right before bed should do the trick.
One Step at a Time
It all starts with a single step, which in time becomes a habit without even thinking. Sticky notes on mirrors or sticker charts with enticing rewards can help move those habits toward a new routine. At myKIDSdds, the doctors and our team are always willing to listen, helping to resolve your challenges with fresh ideas. Let us help you with your new year of new healthy habits!
Contact our office today!
We are confident through these preventative measures you and your child will achieve a healthy smile and have a great year of oral health. It is an honor to partner with you in caring for your child, as well as promoting overall health and wellness through education and self-discovery. Contact our office today to schedule a regular cleaning and exam. We can’t wait for you to experience the myKIDSdds difference!
Healthy Smile, Healthy Child
Of course, a beautiful smile begins with a healthy smile. Our team will help your child achieve good oral hygiene through regular cleanings and one on one education. Your little one will receive an oral hygiene score and coaching each time they visit us for a cleaning, cultivating a sense of responsibility and accomplishment while also building their confidence each time they improve their score. Don’t forget, a clean mouth promotes total body health and wellness too! This is why our doctors will screen for airway issues, talk about nutrition, eating habits, and much more. We want our patients to be empowered in the knowledge we provide to them on the health of their facial complex and how it relates to their overall systemic health. We are excited to partner with you throughout your child’s pediatric dental journey into orthodontics, and beyond!
