You’ve heard it before: Brushing your teeth is important for dental health. Dental visits and checkups, flossing, and brushing are all ways to keep your pearly whites healthy. But what if you could make tooth-brushing a fun family activity? Does bringing the family together for a nightly tooth-brushing session make a difference? That’s what an American Dental Association article asked, and the answer is yes! There are benefits to families who brush their teeth together. Here’s why it’s important to keep things as routine as possible in your household.
Build Good Habits
Brushing your teeth is only one part of a healthy dental routine. According to Summerlin Dental Solutions, a local Summerlin dentist, “as you set an example and build healthy habits in your family, you can help your family develop good oral health habits that last a lifetime.” This can also be an opportunity to have important conversations with your child, such as talking about what types of foods are good and bad for teeth or discussing how to handle peer pressure from friends who might not have the same healthy oral hygiene habits. By brushing with your child, you can create a fun, positive dental-health ritual that can last a lifetime. When you make brushing a part of your everyday routine, it becomes easier to remember to do it consistently. And for children, brushing teeth can become a daily habit that gets easier with time.
Establish a Routine
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. For children ages two and younger, it’s recommended that you brush their teeth, too. Once they’re old enough, you can start to transition them to brush their own teeth. Brushing your teeth at the same time each day can help you establish a daily routine. It’s important to do this, so you’re brushing at the right time. For example, brushing before bed is a great way to make sure your teeth are clean and clear before you go to sleep. If you brush at the same time as your family, it can help you all become more in tune with each other’s dental health.
Develop Stronger Bonds
Daily brushing routines are a great way to make sure your family members are taking care of their teeth and building strong oral health habits. And there are other health benefits to family brushing sessions, too. It’s a great opportunity to connect with your kids or partner on a daily basis. It can be a simple way to strengthen family bonds as you all get ready for bed. Brushing your teeth together can also be a great way to talk about tough topics. If your kids are dealing with peer pressure, for example, you can use the brushing ritual as an opportunity to broach the topic with your child. While brushing, you can ask them about what’s going on and offer them tools to help them make good choices.
Teeth Are Just the Beginning
When you bring your family together for a nightly brushing ritual, you’re not just brushing your teeth. You’re also breaking down walls and building stronger relationships. Bringing your family together for a daily brushing session can be a fun way to start the day and end the day positively. It can be a nice way to start your day with a quick bonding moment while also giving everyone a chance to start their day off right with a healthy routine. Just like brushing can help your teeth stay healthy, it can also help keep your gums healthy, too. It’s important to keep your gums healthy, and flossing is one way to do that. Most people don’t floss as often as they should. Bringing your family together for a daily flossing session can help everyone remember to keep their mouths healthy and strong.
The Importance of Good Dental Care and Regular Visits
It’s important to establish good habits, like brushing and flossing, but you also need to get regular dental visits to keep your dental health on track. The American Dental Association recommends regular dental visits once every six months. But brushing and flossing each day are easy ways you can help strengthen your oral health. When you bring your family together for brushing and flossing sessions, it’s an easy way to keep everyone on track with their dental care. This can help you make sure your family stays on track with their dental appointments, too. It can be helpful to write down appointments on a calendar and share the calendar with everyone in the family, so everyone knows when their next appointment is.
Tips for Creating a Brushing Ritual in Your Family
If you’re ready to bring your family together for daily brushing, there are a few ways you can make it happen. You can set a timer for two minutes and have everyone brush their teeth at the same time. Or you can set up a brushing station in a central location. You can also create a brushing ritual in your family.
Brushing Time Does Not Have to Be Boring
Studies have shown that families who brush their teeth togetherhave better oral health. It’s important to make brushing and flossing a daily routine in your household. It’s also helpful to set up a brushing station in your home to make it easier to brush your teeth daily. Brushing is only one part of a healthy dental routine. You also have to floss daily to keep your gums healthy. It’s important to make sure everyone in your family follows this daily routine. By brushing and flossing together, you can help strengthen your family’s oral health.