It can be a struggle to make sure your kids practice good oral hygiene and brush their teeth every day. Kids have short attention spans and may not understand why they have to do something as boring as brushing their teeth every single day. However, there are some things you can do to help make brushing seem more fun and encourage your kids to take care of their teeth. Here are 7 tips to help make brushing fun.
It’s important to take care of kids’ teeth the minute they start to come in. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly dentist who can help you and your child maintain healthy teeth, call Love Brushing Dentistry today at 713-490-2088 to schedule your appointment today.
Tip 1: Make Brushing Special
Let your child pick out a fun, colorful toothbrush that they’ll enjoy and look forward to using. It can also help to pick a toothpaste that your child likes – but make sure it’s not one that they’ll be tempted to swallow!
Tip 2: Brush to Music
Music can help the time fly by while you’re brushing for the dentist recommended 2 minutes. Put on your kid’s favorite song and have a dance party while brushing. Supervise your child to make sure they’re actually brushing during the song, though.
Tip 3: Reward Good Brushing Habits
Instill good dental hygiene habits in your child by rewarding them for a job well done. Every time your child successfully and thoroughly brushes their teeth without complaining or stalling, reward them with something they’ll like. It doesn’t have to be a big thing – maybe you can let them stay up 10 minutes past their bedtime, or even just give them a gold star. You know best what your child will respond to.
Tip 4: Make Brushing a Game
Kids love games and have active imaginations. Put those imaginations to work by coming up with a fun game to play while brushing your teeth. For example, pretend that you have to defeat the “Sugar Bugs” that live on every child’s teeth by brushing really, really thoroughly and making sure to hit every nook and cranny.
Tip 5: Use a Timer
Get a 2-minute hourglass or a fun-looking egg timer and challenge your child to brush the whole way through until the timer runs out. Combine this with a reward if they manage to brush non-stop the entire time.
Tip 6: Brush as a Family
Institute “family brushing time” every evening for a chance to bond and lead by example. When your child sees Mommy and Daddy brushing together, they may be more likely to want to imitate you and brush nicely themselves.
Tip 7: Read a Book
Reading a child-friendly book about the importance of brushing your teeth can help reinforce the idea that your child should take care of their teeth, while at the same time giving you another chance to bond with your child.
Schedule Your Child’s Dental Appointment Today
Whether it’s your child’s very first visit to the dentist or just time for their biannual checkup, call Love Brushing Dentistry today at 713-490-2088 to schedule your appointment. We serve patients in Channelview, Baytown, Pasadena, and other nearby areas of east Houston.
