Now Offering Free Orthodontic Consultations!
All children need to maintain their daily brushing and flossing routine to keep their teeth healthy. When your child enjoys brushing and looks forward to it, it makes it much easier for them to maintain their routine.
A good attitude and a few clever tricks can make your child an enthusiastic brusher for life. Pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, located at Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, share these tips to help your kid enjoy brushing their teeth.
Variety is fun, and there’s no reason your child needs to brush with the same boring toothbrush and toothpaste every night. Just as you give them different healthy snack options after school, you can give them a choice of toothbrushes.
Take your child to the store and pick out different toothbrushes, toothpastes, brushing timers, and dental floss that they love. Your child can enjoy any tools that are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) for children.
Every night, let your child choose which toothbrush and toothpaste they’d like to use as part of their brushing adventure.
Your child looks up to you and emulates your habits. If you complain about brushing your teeth or regularly skipping days, your child is less likely to feel good about oral healthcare.
Instead, demonstrate daily brushing habits and your enthusiasm for keeping them. Your young child will already need help brushing and flossing their own teeth, so get even more involved by brushing your teeth at the same time. You can also include siblings and any other family members in the house.
Imaginative play is fun for children. You can get everyone brushing enthusiastically by making it part of a storyline.
Create tasks your child needs to complete, such as brushing or flossing, to get closer to defeating a villain or achieving another story goal. You can incorporate toys, videos, music, and books, depending on what your child loves.
Playlists make brushing more fun because your whole family can dance to the beat while you brush. A timed two-minute song also ensures your child brushes for the full two minutes recommended.
The ADA provides a tooth brushing playlist with several timed songs your child can play while brushing. You can also find your own selections.
Sometimes, not enjoying brushing can be about a lack of confidence. You start out brushing your child’s teeth, with them eventually taking over entirely between the ages of 7 and 9.
If your child doesn’t feel confident about brushing or flossing, getting them up to speed can make a world of difference. This is something our team helps your child master at their dental cleanings.
In addition to mastering technique, your child will also enjoy brushing when they don’t find it frustrating. Some children like electronic brushes, electronic flossers, or automated timers, while others prefer to do things manually. Talk to your older child about what they prefer.
Along with encouraging your child to brush, remember to compliment, hug, and praise them when they do a good job. Some families also like having a formal reward system in place where your child earns rewards after brushing their teeth.
We’re here to help your child make brushing a habit they learn young and do for life. Contact us to make your child’s dental appointment.
