Does your family love doing most everything together? In fact, when you have a chance to do something as a family, does it make even the most menial of task seem a lot more fun? If so, you might be used to going to the grocery store together, or even cleaning the garage as a team. But what about visiting the dentist? Though they understand the importance of taking their kids to see the dentist, many parents try to skip out on routine cleanings themselves. Whether it’s due to a general dental anxiety, concerns about cost, time constraints, a misbelief that it’s not that important to go more than once every few years, or some other misconception, the truth is that it’s important that your kids see you setting a good dental health example. And one of the best ways you can do that, is by scheduling dental visits for your whole family!
Why Are Family Dental Visits Important?
After the age of one, every person in your family should begin seeing the dentist on a regular basis. That’s because routine checkups and cleanings allow your family dentist to check for any burgeoning issues, such as cavities, as well as to prevent future ones, through the use of a thorough cleaning meant to remove acidic tartar buildup.
Tartar is a calcified substance that can actually only be remove through a professional cleaning. This is why it’s important that everyone in the family, not just the kids, see the dentist regularly. The general guideline is that you should go to your dentist at least twice a year. However, if you or your kids seem prone to cavities, you may find that more frequent cleanings are actually in order.
Are There Ways to Make Dental Care More Fun?
Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly are important, and they are things that you can easily do as a family, especially if you have young kids that still need supervision. With older kids, you could simply make it a point to brush or floss in front of them, from time to time, so they know that it is a lifelong habit they are developing.
To make this time feel more like fun, than a chore, try using a song you all love to signify start and stop times. Remember, you should be brushing for approximately two minutes at least twice a day. Or, use a timer to let everyone know how long to brush.
Does Your Family Need Dental Care?
A family dentist can help keep all of your smiles in great shape. Fortunately, you can schedule checkups and cleanings for the whole family with Dr. Okoniewski at Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, by calling (248) 852-1820 today.
