It is safe to say that few kids, if any, like taking care of their teeth.
It can seem pointless to young children to brush their teeth, but, as their parents, it is important for their future physical, dental, and mental health to make sure that they brush and floss twice a day.
This can seem like a challenging hurdle to jump over, but if you are creative with the process, it can become a lot easier to ensure your kids maintain their dental hygiene. How? Here are some top tips!
Dance Party
Yes, you read that right!
Many kids love singing and dancing, so you can use this to your advantage when it comes to their dental health. Indeed, many of the family dentistry Asheville NC, will advise parents to make the dental routine for kids as fun as possible, and, in relation to a dance party, this will allow your kids to dance to their favorite tunes as they brush. Try to join in the fun, as kids learn via mimicry, and will go on to associate this fun time with you, provided you actually enjoy it! Just make sure that the song lasts for at least 3 minutes.
Create a Reward Chart
If you want kids to engage with you, you need to celebrate the progress that they are making. This is true with tidying their room, completing chores, and, of course, oral hygiene. Set up a reward chart that will help them to achieve their daily brushing goals. You can use mini stickers, stamps, or even tick boxes to make sure they hit their dental targets. Then, when they reach a week or month of daily brushing, they can get some special privileges or rewards.
Get a Character Toothbrush
You don’t want to get your kid a toothbrush that is dull; which kid in their right mind would want to brush with a dull or boring toothbrush?
If you look in any dental section of a supermarket or pharmacy, you will note that all of the toothbrushes that are aimed at children are colorful, are character-based, or play music. In most cases, it is all 3! So, try and get them a toothbrush based around their favorite character, which will encourage them to brush their teeth.
Look at Different Flavoured Toothpaste
The standard toothpaste flavor is mint. Most adults are quite content to brush with mint toothpaste, but for children, it may be a bit boring. There’s that word again! When trying to encourage your kids to brush, opt to use different flavored toothpastes. Some of the most popular kids’ flavors include strawberry, raspberry, and even apple. Shop around until you find a toothpaste that your kids will like, as it will add an element of fun to their dental routine.
Brush With Them
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
With kids, you need to ensure that they are brushing their teeth well and not just saying that they have. The best way to do this is to brush with them. You could even show them how you brush your teeth or your dental routine so they can learn how best to keep their teeth clean.
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