Dentists advise brushing teeth for two minutes, twice per day, but it can be challenging to get kids to brush their pearly whites regularly and properly. Sometimes, the usual explanations just don’t work.
Studies show that poor dental hygiene is extremely common in children and can cause serious pain and diseases like diabetes, cold sores, and developmental delays. That’s why it’s crucial to find a good pediatric dentist in Powdersville, SC who can teach brushing to your children early on, so they will practice good dental hygiene throughout life.
Here are a few ways you can make brushing teeth more fun for your kids.
Buy the Right Brush
Using a toothbrush can be difficult for little hands. This may be the reason your child is resisting. Hamptons Dental suggests an electric or battery-operated toothbrush may be better in this case, as it requires less manual dexterity.
The brush head’s oscillation will clean teeth without the need for moving the hand around and brushing up and down. The buzzing of the brush will also make brushing seem more fun to a child!
Be sure to purchase the correct type of electric brush for children, but also let your child choose a brush they like. Kids’ brushes come in fun colors and sometimes with animation characters or funky designs on them.
Some even play music or have blinking lights. A child is more likely to use an implement they like.
If your child is unsure of using the electronic brush, let them feel the action of it on their hand and practice moving it around first. Tell them it’s like getting a new toy!
Pick Fun Toothpaste
You can also let your child be involved in choosing their toothpaste. Again, if they picked it out themselves, they are more likely to want to try it.
Kiddie toothpaste is typically flavored to suit kids’ tastes — such as bubblegum flavor. Some brands also come in fun colors, and some even appear glittery.
For an adult, bright pink, bubblegum, glittery toothpaste sounds awful. But to a kid, it makes a world of difference.
Play a Game
It can help to turn the chore into a fun game or combine it with another enjoyable activity!
Here are a few ideas:
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Kids enjoy copycat games. You can pretend you are a mirror, and they must copy all your moves while brushing their teeth.
You can make some silly faces and movements to liven things up. You can even have a competition about who makes the craziest teeth brushing faces!
By brushing with this fun game, you’re teaching a valuable lesson: follow your parents, because they know best!
Shoo, Sugar Bugs
Tell your kids that they are chasing away sugar bugs that have settled after eating sweets by brushing. You can get imaginative about what the bugs look like and why it’s essential to get rid of them!
Making up a story like this is highly effective in getting kids to brush and have fun doing it.
Beat the Timer
Use an egg timer with colorful sand and tell your child they need to finish brushing before the timer runs out. Make sure it takes two minutes!
Play a Song
You can also play one of your child’s favorite songs while they brush. They’ll then associate brushing with something they love.
Final Thoughts
This may all sound like a lot of song and dance — literally! However, teeth brushing is a worthwhile area to focus on with your kids.
Get your kids to engage their imaginations when brushing, and it’s more likely to become an enjoyable part of their day. Additionally, you can also consult dental care by the dentist in Lancaster for professional tips to teach your kids good oral hygiene care.
Related Posts:
- How Moms Can Ensure Their Children Have Super-Healthy Teeth
- Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth
- How to Protect Your Family’s Teeth During the Holidays
- How to find good Dentistry services in your area
- How to Choose Good Toothpaste for Kids
- Your Guide To Encouraging Your Kids To Take Care Of Their Teeth