{"id":203,"date":"2020-05-03T10:39:35","date_gmt":"2020-05-03T10:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/?p=203"},"modified":"2020-08-17T21:58:41","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T21:58:41","slug":"pediatric-dentist-explains-how-kids-hand-washing-keeps-them-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/03\/pediatric-dentist-explains-how-kids-hand-washing-keeps-them-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatric Dentist Explains How Kids\u2019 Hand Washing Keeps Them Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Kids<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For kids, getting your hands dirty is part of the fun of childhood. As a parent, however, you may be worried about all the germs they come into contact with, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. That\u2019s where hand hygiene comes in! Hands down (no pun intended), it\u2019s one of the best defenses we have against bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. But it\u2019s important to teach kids how and when to wash their hands to make sure they\u2019re being effective. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of kids\u2019 hand washing and how you can instill good habits in your child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Best Hand Washing Technique For Kids <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, a quick 5 or 10 second wash just isn\u2019t effective at removing viruses and bacteria. The following hand washing technique is also used at a pediatric dentist office<\/a> as part of their safety protocol – not only during the COVID-19 pandemic, but always. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these 5 easy steps, you can be confident that your child\u2019s hands are truly clean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Start by running their hands under clean, lukewarm water. <\/li>
  2. Use enough soap to work up a rich lather (plain old soap is fine, especially as anti-bacterial formulas don\u2019t offer any extra protection against viruses). <\/li>
  3. Gently \u201cscrub\u201d their hands, making sure to include their fingertips and in between their fingers. An easy way to ensure they\u2019re washing long enough (20-30 seconds) is to sing Happy Birthday, the alphabet, or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star twice.<\/li>
  4. Rinse thoroughly. <\/li>
  5. Dry their hands well with a clean towel. If you\u2019re using a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How Can You Teach Your Kids Good Hand Washing Habits?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    With a little help from an adult and a sturdy stool in front of the sink, many kids can start washing their own hands around 18 to 24 months old (just make sure the water is at a safe temperature). To explain its importance in language they can understand, you can say something like, \u201cIt\u2019s important to wash away the bugs on our hands to keep us healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s also important to model good behavior, which goes a long way towards instilling habits in children. Everyone in the family should be washing their hands or using hand sanitizer (if hand washing isn\u2019t possible) in the following situations:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n