Children are notorious for not always wanting to brush their teeth. To be fair, two minutes is a long time to be doing something that’s, frankly, kind of uninteresting. If you want to encourage them to be more consistent with their oral hygiene habits, you’ll have to make brushing and flossing seem fun and exciting! Keep reading, and you’ll find several ideas for doing exactly that.
Buy Them a Fun Toothbrush
Sometimes, all you need to make a chore seem more interesting to your child is some fun personalization! If they have a favorite cartoon or superhero, find a toothbrush that is themed after the character. You’ll be surprised by how many creative shapes a simple toothbrush can take.
Get Some Yummy Toothpaste
Do you remember how you felt about mint as a child? For most kiddos, this flavor is just too intense to be satisfying or refreshing. A more kid-friendly variety like strawberry, bubblegum, or birthday cake can help your child have a more positive brushing session – and therefore be more likely to do it again and again.
Make Oral Hygiene a Game
Maybe it’s a game to see who has the best dance moves while cleaning their teeth, or who can take the best smiley picture when their done. Whatever you come up with, gamifying your child’s oral hygiene experience is a surefire way to keep them engaged. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, try to include your little one’s favorite activities or fictional characters to jazz things up a bit.
Build a Routine
Scientifically speaking, children respond really well to consistent routines. Not only do they provide a sense of comfort and normalcy, but a good routine will help them feel ready for the day – or ready to wind down for bed. The more you reinforce oral hygiene habits, the more likely your child is to keep them going.
Getting your child excited to brush their teeth isn’t always easy, but it can be done! Just ask your pediatric dentist. They’re specially trained to make oral hygiene seem more fun and interesting to kids, so they’re bound to have plenty of advice. Together, you can help your little one form lifelong healthy habits.
About the Practice
Dr. Ben Baghai and Dr. Kaveh Ghods are both board-certified pediatric dentists. Not only do they have the training and education to help encourage children to take good care of their teeth, but they also have warm, gentle personalities that are easy to get along with. If you need some extra help with getting your child to be more interested in oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Ben and Dr. Ghods at 972-674-9966.