{"id":194,"date":"2025-07-02T15:46:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=194"},"modified":"2025-07-16T15:47:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:47:46","slug":"dental-habits-your-child-absolutely-should-not-be-skipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=194","title":{"rendered":"3 Dental Habits Your Child Absolutely Shouldn\u2019t Be Skipping"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The road to a lifetime of healthy, happy, smiling begins at a young age\u2014even before all of the teeth have arrived! However, children don\u2019t always have things down pat when it comes to routine oral care; some even skip important habits, not knowing that it puts their teeth at risk of unpleasant issues. Continue reading to learn about three dental habits that your child or teen might not be handling themselves; their smile\u2019s future is at stake!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Brushing Twice a Day\u2026 Especially at Night<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most people have an easier time remembering to brush their teeth in the morning compared to at night after a long day\u2014and children are no different. There\u2019s a chance that if you don\u2019t actively remind them or encourage them to brush at night, they simply won\u2019t. However, even if this only happens once in a while, it still drastically increases the risk of issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Be sure your child isn\u2019t snacking late at night or staying up watching television in favor of tending to their smile; just a couple of minutes each evening (and morning) can make all the difference in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Brushing for a Full Two Minutes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brushing for a full two minutes might feel like forever to a child\u2014but even if they\u2019re brushing twice a day, if they aren\u2019t doing it long enough, their smile isn\u2019t being fully cleaned! Those two minutes help ensure that plaque and food particles are thoroughly removed from every corner of their mouth. You can help your child with this by setting up a timer for them, playing their favorite song as they brush, or by simply standing there and brushing with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Flossing Every Single Day, No Exceptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flossing goes hand-in-hand with brushing, but sadly, many children (and adults) tend to skip this step entirely when tending to their smiles, thinking that their toothbrush can get the job done on its own! However, the truth is that toothbrushes aren\u2019t designed to thoroughly clean those tight spaces between the teeth, but a good flossing session before bed will dislodge most tiny particles that can cause damage and contribute to decay. Children don\u2019t always have an easy time manipulating dental floss, so if your child needs to up their flossing game, consider dental floss sticks or even a Waterpik.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helping your child to maintain these habits will set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiling. Also, remember that even if you can get your child to brush and floss consistently, they still need to attend these biannual checkups<\/a>, no exceptions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Myles Clancy<\/a> is a board-certified pediatric dentist and diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and he and our team here at Kids\u2019 Smiles on Lincoln have served families in Worcester for several years, offering a wide range of pediatric dental services for children of all ages. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment for your child, please reach out online<\/a> or call today for more information. Telephone: (508) 506-8859.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The road to a lifetime of healthy, happy, smiling begins at a young age\u2014even before all of the teeth have arrived! However, children don\u2019t always have things down pat when it comes to routine oral care; some even skip important habits, not knowing that it puts their teeth at risk of unpleasant issues. Continue reading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nDental Habits Your Child Shouldn't Be Skipping | Kids' Smiles on Lincoln<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Routine oral hygiene is important for adults and children alike; however, your child may be skipping some necessary steps and habits!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=194\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dental Habits Your Child Shouldn't Be Skipping | Kids' Smiles on Lincoln\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Routine oral hygiene is important for adults and children alike; 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