Let’s face it—one bad dental appointment and a child is scarred for life. While dental horror stories are rare, even the thought of having a cavity removed can be enough to scare a child.
This often makes it difficult for dentists to teach children about oral health. However, it’s important that children develop strong oral hygiene habits that they can carry with them into adulthood, especially in the case of the dental health of kids with ADHD.
So, how can you teach your child patients about oral health? And when’s the best time to start?
We’re here to fill you in. Keep reading below to learn everything you need to know about oral health education.
Make Visits Fun
If you have a TV in your office, make sure you have children’s channels as an option. The more comfortable a child is during checkups, the more receptive they’ll be to oral health education.
Most dental offices have a prize drawer for their younger patients. However, it’s time to add some extra prizes along with the traditional stickers and pencils.
To promote oral health, at the end of each visit, attach a traditional prize to a colorful toothbrush. Even colorful or flavored types of toothpaste can add a fun element to toothbrushing.
Appeal to Their Parents Through SEO
It can be hard to teach extremely young kids about oral health. That’s why it’s important to appeal to their parents, rather than the children themselves.
Writing informative articles about oral health education is key to marketing towards parents. However, if you’re trying to grow your dental practice and encourage more parents to visit with their children, you need to develop strong marketing strategies. After all, parents can’t read your tips if they don’t land on your website, to begin with.
One of the easiest ways to get your message out there is through SEO. Dental SEO can put you on the front page of browser results and establish you as a dental care guru.
Promote the Use of Apps
We’re living in a digital age, and plenty of children have their own smartphones or tablets. One of the best ways to make oral health fun and encourage dental care is through the use of apps.
Chomper Chums is an interactive app and perfect for children as young as three. With Chomper Chums, your child chooses an animal to take care of. When they brush twice a day, they’re rewarded with coins that they can use to care for and feed their animal.
Playbrush Kids is another great app to promote oral health education. It gives children a way to learn about strong oral hygiene habits, track their daily progress, and play games along.
Start Teaching Oral Health to Children in Exciting Ways
There’s more to children’s oral health than brushing kids’ teeth and encouraging them to floss. However, even the basics can be important. With the tips above, you’ll be able to set the foundation for good oral hygiene habits and keep your child patients happy and healthy!
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