We know that your days are frenzied. There are appointments to keep track of, plus you have to juggle your kids’ extracurricular activities along with your own packed schedule. Mornings are especially busy, and it’s always an amazing feat when you can get your kids—and yourself!—out the door dressed, hair combed, and teeth brushed. 

That last morning routine is often rushed, and proper dental care, in general, can be easily overlooked, but it’s actually what you should spend the most time on. That's why the Canadian Dental Association is celebrating National Oral Health Month in April. (The American Dental Association celebrates National Dental Health Month in February.) 

For your kids' oral heath, Michael J. Hanna, DMD, a pediatric dentist in Pittsburgh and a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry asks parents these crucial questions. 

Kids' Dental Checklist

Did your child brush her teeth after breakfast?

Did she also brush her teeth after lunch? (This may not be possible, but stress good hygiene by sending her to school with a toothpaste and toothbrush. Your preschool or day-care center may also teach the kids to brush after lunch.)

Did your child brush her teeth before putting her head down to sleep at night?

When your child brushes her teeth, does she spend at least a minute brushing each row of teeth?

Does she brush her teeth from the front, back, and top?

If your child has just started brushing her own teeth, do you supervise her to make sure she’s doing it properly?

Do you buy toothpaste with fluoride for the family to use?

If your child has teeth that touch, they need to be flossed. Do you floss your child’s teeth once daily? Or at least once every other day for younger kids? (Most kids can’t floss correctly on their own until they're at least 10 years old.)

Do you teach your younger child how to floss by letting her floss her front teeth, while you floss the back teeth?

Does your child brush her tongue daily?

If your child has braces, does she also use a fluoride mouth rinse daily?

Do you change your child’s toothbrush once the bristles get frayed?

Do you give your child a new toothbrush after she feels better from being sick with the cold or flu?

Do you bring your child to the dentist for a checkup and cleaning twice a year?

When it comes to brushing and flossing, lead by example, says Carolyn Taggart-Burns, DDS, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of General Dentistry and a dentist in Omaha, Nebraska. “Show your kids that you’re interested in doing it and that you’re doing it to,” she says. Here are more of her gentle reminders (and surprise, surprise, some of them overlap with what your kids should be doing).

Do you brush at least twice a day (after each meal is ideal) for at least two minutes?

When you brush, do you use a circular motion to massage the gums as well?

Do you floss daily? (Tip: When you place floss between teeth, be sure to floss each tooth.)

Do you brush your tongue once a day?

If you’re prone to bad breath, have you tried using an antiseptic mouthwash in addition to brushing and flossing?

If your mouth tends to get dry, and you like to use mouthwash, have you tried using a non-alcoholic rinse?

If you’re prone to gingivitis (red, swollen gums that tend to bleed) and cavities, do you use a fluoride mouth rinse? (Tip: Dip your toothbrush in the fluoride rinse and brush it on your teeth.)

Do you visit your dentist for an exam every 6 months?

Give yourself a gold star if you answered all these questions with a "yes." If you answered "no" to some of the questions, talk to your dentist about easier ways to fit those dental care routines for you and your child into your day.