Good dental hygiene needs to begin at a young age, but if you’re a parent, you know how hard it can be to get your kids to brush their teeth. How can you make the process easier and even fun? Here are five ways:
- Offer a Reward
- Tell a Story
- Play Music for 2 Minutes
- Get a Timer App
- Let Them Choose Their Toothbrush & Toothpaste
If your kid is putting up a fuss about brushing their teeth, offer something in exchange for the cleaning. As a result, they will start to associate good things with tooth-brushing. Rewards should be small. For example, they could stay up five minutes past bedtime, choose the movie to see on the weekend, or add a sticker in a chore book for every successful brushing.
Kids can get bored brushing their teeth, so why not entertain them with a story? Instead of waiting to read to them until they’re in bed, start the story while they’re brushing their teeth. This way, you can keep an eye on their brushing technique too.
We recommend that everyone, including kids, brush their teeth for two minutes. Songs are the perfect way to keep track of time in an engaging, entertaining way. There are even special tooth-brushing songs available on Youtube. If your kid likes a particular song, play that for two minutes.
Setting an egg timer for two minutes might not get your kids interested in brushing their teeth, but what if the timer involved their favorite Disney character or a little monster? Fun timer apps like the Disney Magic Timer and Brusheez bring in favorite cartoon characters and monsters. Kids are encouraged to brush for the full two minutes and are rewarded with progress badges, animations, and more.
Kids like to be independent in any way they can. Therefore, they might get more excited about tooth-brushing if they have some say about the toothbrush and toothpaste. Take them to the store with you and let them pick out their own. Since toothbrushes need to be replaced every few months, choosing a new one can become a fun tradition.
Leesburg Family Dental Is Kid-Friendly
We know that going to the dentist can be intimidating for kids. That’s why we’ve taken care to create a kid-friendly space with a play area, Hulu, and Netflix. When brushing teeth and going to the dentist are both fun experiences, a child will build good dental habits that last a lifetime!
Contact Us