Establish healthy dental habits for your children while they’re young, and they’ll have good dental health for years to come. When your child reaches the age of 2, it’s a good time to visit a pediatric dentist and teach your child how to brush their teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease, the most prevalent dental conditions, can be easily prevented by brushing teeth twice a day. Make tooth brushing fun for kids and it will never feel like a chore.
How to Make Tooth Brushing Fun for Kids
Don’t make tooth brushing a chore; make it fun! Parents know children need a little coaxing and encouragement, so the more you make oral hygiene a pleasant experience, the more likely they’ll keep up the good habits.
- Let your kids choose their toothbrush at the store. They’ll feel special getting to pick out the brush, like it’s a treat.
- Turn your morning brushing into a dance party! Pick a favorite upbeat song that lasts 2 minutes and play it as your child brushes their teeth. Brush until the song is done.
- Switch up the sound for your nighttime teeth brushing: Instead of music, play a children’s audio book. If it’s longer than a couple of minutes, you can listen to portions each night until you finish and move to the next.
- Brush your teeth at the same time as your child so they feel like you have a ritual together. Kids love spending time with their parents, and they’ll learn from watching you.
- Is your kid resistant to brushing? Introduce a rewards system. Put a blank calendar in the bathroom and every time they brush their teeth, they get a sticker for that day on the calendar. If they have a complete set of stickers by the end of the week, they get a small toy.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
