When you have a family, it can be a challenge to make sure they stay healthy in every way. Between trying to maintain healthy eating habits, getting enough exercise, and regular visits to a primary care doctor, it’s no surprise that dental health is so often ignored. But dental health is one of the most important components of keeping everyone in your family happy and healthy. If you’re in need of a few tips for ensuring your family gets the dental care they need to maintain excellent dental health, then follow our simple guide below.

Take Your Children to a Pediatric Dentist

Kids’ dental needs are a little bit different than adults. It may be a little more expensive, but it’s more cost-effective in the long run. The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools warns that 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illness. Make sure you’re investing in a dentist for children so your kids get the oral care they need. By keeping up on routine visits to a pediatric dentist, you have a much better chance of preventing the types of dental health diseases that cause discomfort and cost lots of money to take care of.

While dentist visits can be scary and stressful for some children, it’s important that you stay consistent with them, even if your children don’t enjoy seeing the dentist. Routine check-ups will help your dentist to track any potential problems in the growth and development of your children’s teeth. This means that if issues arise, they can be caught and treated right away before they transform into even larger, less manageable dental health problems. In addition to keeping an eye on problems, regular dental visits also help your children establish positive dental health habits. They also get their teeth cleaned which is a great way to get rid of plaque and maintain vitality in the gums.

Plan for Braces

While braces are necessary in some cases, they can also be quite expensive. Even if you don’t know whether your children need braces, it’s good to start saving now. There’s no better way to ensure dental health than by investing in the kinds of treatments that keep your children’s teeth growing in the right way. Many times this may mean having braces used to tame any issues with the development of certain teeth. This type of corrective treatment is especially important for younger children, as braces can often be a vital part of helping teeth to grow in properly, which also prevents further issues and complications.

Wire braces are the most common choice when it comes to children’s braces, but other options are quickly becoming more popular. Invisible braces are a widespread option because they aren’t as much of a nuisance as wire braces. While they are easier to make adjustments to and have a cosmetic advantage, invisible braces also tend to be more expensive, so they may not be the best choice if you’re trying to save a buck.

When it comes to planning for braces, you should make a mental note to continuously save enough money to pay for them each month. Sure, it may seem like you’re spending a lot of money upfront, but taking care of your family’s dental health before it gets worse can actually end up saving you far more money in the long run. With the right mindset and a little bit of financial preparation, you’ll find that paying for braces is not so bad after all.

Eliminate Unneeded Bills and Costs

Even if you’re not paying for braces, other aspects of dental health can get to be quite pricey over time. For this reason, it’s wise to straighten out your priorities to be certain that you have enough to cover any dental health expenses that might arise. For example, your child’s middle school event you’re involved in might seem fun, but if you’re sinking extra money into planning it, it could be time to let it go. Other unnecessary expenses such as spending lots of money eating out at restaurants, or paying for monthly subscriptions that you never even use should also be eliminated to make room for more important things. As it turns out, checking in on your monthly bills for the benefit of your dental health can also serve as a positive financial exercise for you and your family.

Don’t Neglect Your Dog’s Dental Care

While most of the top dental health tips are more concerned with human beings in your family, you shouldn’t forget that your dog is also a valued family member! And their teeth matter too! You can invest in dog training classes all you want, but it won’t keep your pooch’s teeth clean. Instead of training classes, consider investing in proper dental care for dogs.

It may seem like a foreign concept to seek dental health treatment for your dog, but it’s actually becoming more well known that dogs also need care and attention to maintain the health and longevity of their teeth. While you can take your dog to see a vet that specializes in dental health, there are also several positive steps that you can take at home. For example, you can find dog toys that have healthy bacteria to contribute to a healthy environment in your dog’s mouth

Consider using special dog toothbrushes that are made for dog teeth. While you don’t have to brush their teeth every single day, the occasional brushing can do wonders for canine dental health. When brushing your dog’s teeth, you shouldn’t use any regular toothpaste, as they can be harmful to your dog’s dental health. There are special toothpastes made specifically for dog teeth available on today’s market. You should have no trouble finding one by searching online, or speaking with your veterinarian or local pet store.

Consider Using Outside Financial Resources

It should come as no surprise that the financial obligations of routine dental visits can take their toll on your monthly budget. Sure, some dentists and orthodontists might offer payment plans, but sometimes it’s just not enough to keep you afloat. If your finances are a mess, consider getting tax help from an expert. If you’re really in a rut, hard money loans could be an option if you know what you’re doing.

Of course, you should always first check to see what options you have in terms of health insurance. Some plans only cover certain dental procedures, while others are a bit more comprehensive. Doing a complete analysis of your health care coverage in regards to dental health is something you should take the time to do before you go searching for alternative sources of funding.

If you have determined that your insurance policy doesn’t offer sufficient coverage for your bills, then it’s a good idea to speak with a financial adviser. Rather than trying to make all the big decisions on your own, it’s usually worthwhile to consult with an expert in the field. Professional financial advisers can find you the best alternative funding sources while also making sure that you pay for things with the least amount of damage done to your cash flow and credit score.

Practice Healthy Habits

At the end of the day, most of the healthiest things you can do take place in your day to day routines. A lot of dental care can be avoided by maintaining consistent habits that promote ongoing health and well being in your family’s teeth and gums. It all starts with you. Setting an example that the rest of the family can be inspired by is a huge part of establishing any healthy habit, especially those related to dental health. When your family members see you brushing and flossing it serves as a powerful reminder for them to follow in your footsteps. You could also make a fun game out of it and see who can keep the longest streak of daily flossing going. Offering rewards and incentives can be an incredibly effective way to go about establishing healthy dental habits, especially in young children. Doing so early on will also have the added benefit of helping them carry these habits with them onward into adolescence and adulthood.

There’s nothing worse than needing emergency care for an issue that could have been prevented. The good news is that most dental emergencies can be easily avoided by practicing the right habits. As you probably know regular daily brushing and flossing are the essential pillars of dental health. You should brush twice daily with no exceptions. Once in the morning and once at night. Making this a habit can be difficult for some people, but the effects of neglecting to brush your teeth are easily observable, and they are not pleasant. If you are having any trouble getting members of the family to stay consistent, it might be helpful to set up weekly or daily rewards every time they complete a streak of brushing or flossing. Some people also find traditional dental floss difficult or awkward to use. In this case, you may want to consider purchasing alternate forms of floss such as a dental floss pick. These are often easier to use than the traditional approach.

Watch What You Eat (And Drink)

While brushing and flossing regularly are certainly vital parts of dental health, your family’s diet should also be considered. If you are eating lots of sugary, sweet treats then just know that they are definitely having a negative effect on your teeth and the teeth of everyone in your family. Furthermore, sugary drinks like artificial fruit juices and soda pop are especially harmful to teeth, as they often sit on the teeth and lead to the formation of plaque and tartar. If your family tends to drink sugary treats, it’s best to do so with a straw, as this reduces the amount of sugar that your teeth and gums are exposed to. Even so, this method should only be used as you begin the process of cutting refined sugars out of your diet. It can be hard, but once you make the transition to a sugar-free lifestyle, you’ll be so happy you did.

The bulk of the problem with sugar addiction is that you’ve built up a store of bacteria in your gut that craves refined sugars. This is why so many people who try to quit sugar cold turkey have immense cravings and withdrawals. Instead, it’s easier to use a more gradual approach. To start cutting out sugar, you can try eating more whole fruits that offer sugar without all the harmful negative side effects that are found in refined sugars and artificial fructose syrups. There are also several natural sweeteners you can use such as honey and stevia. Taking care of your dental health is as much about brushing and flossing as it is about eating the right foods.

Eating a hearty, healthy breakfast has also been shown to be an important piece of the equation when it comes to reducing your cravings for sugar later in the day. When you start the day off with a high protein breakfast, your body is filled up with the type of slow-burning fuel it needs to get through the rest of the day. This means that you will be less likely to go for the types of fake energy boosts that you might think you’re getting through a cookie or a sugary soda drink in the afternoon. Drinking of plenty of water can also help curb your cravings.

By sticking to a regular routine of visits to the dentist office and reinforcing positive dental health habits in the home, you will soon find that keeping your family’s teeth and gums healthy is easier than ever. When you get discouraged, just remember that maintaining your dental health is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and well being. It’s also nice to look in the mirror and see a smile that you love.