Getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a chore, especially when they are young. When children do not know how to properly brush their teeth, or don’t like to brush their teeth, it can put a damper on their oral health for the rest of their lives. Making sure your child enjoys brushing their teeth can set them up for a lifetime of good oral hygiene. From showing them what to do, to doing it for them, to letting them do it themselves, there are many ways to help your child through this process. We have come up with 5 fun ways to get your children to brush their teeth.
1. Let Them Practice on Others
Getting kids to like brushing their teeth starts with teaching them how to do it. Letting your kids practice brushing their teeth on you, their stuffed animals, or any other object, will teach them how to properly brush their teeth while allowing them to be in control. The longer they practice on another object, the more they will enjoy doing it. Then once they have gotten their practice full, have them try it on themselves.
2. Go Shopping
Let your child pick out their own toothbrush! This will make them feel like they are doing something important and they are most likely to use a toothbrush they love. This goes the same with toothpaste! A lot of kids don’t like brushing their teeth because the toothpaste tastes bad to them. Fix this issue by letting them pick out their favorite flavor or color toothpaste in the store. It will have the same effect as picking out their own toothbrush and will make them happy everytime they use it.
3. Brush to Music
Brushing your teeth as a kid can be very boring, mix it up by putting on some music and dancing with the beat! Pick their favorite song and brush have them brush their teeth and dance to the song. This will also have your child brushing their teeth for a longer amount of time. It is even better if you dance and brush along with them, this will show them that even you think brushing your teeth is fun.
4. Make it a Game
This is great for parents who have multiple kids. Having them brushing their teeth at the same time gives you the opportunity to turn it into a game. For example, have them play simon says while brushing their teeth. This will give them good memories of teeth brushing and have them enjoy the experience.
5. Reward Them
This is always a parent’s go to. Reward your child with a toy, trip, or something they enjoy eating after they brush their teeth. This will ensure that they will want to brush their teeth when they are supposed to, and also leave them in a happy mood. While this does not work for all children, it might work for yours.
There are so many fun things you can do to teach your children to like brushing their teeth. The important thing is that you do what is best for your kid and what will work for your family. It is also important to know that kids should typically be brushing their own teeth at the age of 6, but should be introduced to it long before then. When you and your little one are ready to come to the dentist, give us a call to set up an appointment. Or fill out our contact form! We hope this information helped you.