Any parent will tell you that taking care of a child can be hard, but that the toughest thing is to try and get them to take care of themselves. That’s certainly the case when it comes to oral health; trying to help your child to brush their own teeth properly can take a lot of doing on the part of the parent.
Thankfully, there are some things you can try to make oral hygiene a little bit more exciting for your kids. Here are some things that you can try.
App-connected Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes have been clinically proven to clean teeth more efficiently than manual toothbrushes, which naturally makes them great for kids who have limited motor skills. That may explain why so many companies have made electric toothbrushes designed specifically for kids.
Many children’s electric toothbrushes come with all kinds of features to make brushing for the recommended two minutes much more engaging for your child. Some even connect to games on your phone that can give your kids a score depending on how thoroughly they brush.
Brush With Your Child
Kids learn a lot by being told things by their parents, but they learn even more by watching what they do. If you want to help your child form healthy hygiene habits, you can start making it something that you do with them!
This not only demonstrates to them the best way to brush but frames oral hygiene as something that grown-ups do, giving them a feeling of maturity when they take care of themselves.
Set Up Rewards
Of course, one of the strongest tools in any parent’s toolbelt is positive affirmation, especially when it comes to getting your child to develop new habits. You might want to set up a calendar or a sticker chart that you can mark off every time your child brushes their teeth for the full two minutes each night, or if they’re able to floss on their own.
When they reach a certain number of stickers, they can trade them for a tooth-healthy prize, like a toy or a trip to their favorite arcade.
Nothing about parenting is easy, but when you see your child’s shining smile, it’ll make all the work you’ve done for them completely worth it! Hopefully, these tips will be able to help you help them.
About Our Practice
Welcome to Homer Sedighi, DMD and Jessica Martin, DMD Pediatric Dentistry! If you’re trying to get your child to perfect oral health, everyone on our team will work hard to provide you with the knowledge and dental care that they need. We also understand that no two patients are the same, so we’ll take the time to craft a treatment plan specialized specifically to your child.
If you have any questions about how to get your child invested in oral healthcare, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (636) 777-7777.