When it comes to asking your child to do something, it can be easy for them to see it as a chore. It may be a fighting task to get them to pick up their toys or help you set the table, but one thing that shouldn’t be a challenge is caring for their oral health. Their growing smiles deserve the best, so finding ways to make brushing fun can help them stick to a routine. Here are four ways you can try out to see if they help your little one with their dental hygiene.
1.) Have Them Choose Their Dental Products
Children often like to feel they made a decision on their own or have taken ownership in some ways. This can be true when it comes to the different tools they need to take care of their tiny teeth. Let your kid peruse the aisle for a toothbrush they want with a toothpaste flavor they enjoy. However, ensure the latter has fluoride!
2.) Brush Your Teeth While They Do Thiers
Kids often look up to their parents as role models, and you may be no different! Leading by example will let you show them how to properly brush their teeth and ensure they are doing it correctly. Doing this while they are still young can help break habits that may be harder to stop when they are older.
3.) Offer Rewards for Good Habits
You may offer a reward or two for your child to help encourage them to do certain things. Maybe you let them have an extra cookie after dinner if they put away all their toys themself or do well in school, and the same can be done for their oral health!
Some parents find success in assigning points to each step of a dental hygiene routine and give them to their child or keep track of them. Kids can then spend them in a shop where they can get small toys, privileges, or even outings!
4.) Keep with a Consistent Routine
When you have a consistent routine, it can help your child expect and know when certain things need to be done. You can talk with them and work out at a time in the morning and night that you both can brush. Over time, you may start to notice that they take the first step and do not need to be constantly reminded.
In the end, making an at-home oral hygiene routine more fun can help make your child more likely to take part in it. You know your little one the best, so find out which ones work for you and your family! You are helping them build good habits that they’ll take with them into adolescence and adulthood.
About the Practice
At Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center, you benefit from a team of skilled dentists who are happy to help the community get stronger, healthier teeth. We can treat kids of all ages and help their grins be the best they can be. By making sure they are comfortable, you can enjoy a stress-free visit, which encourages them to leave smiling. If it’s time for your child’s next cleaning, schedule an appointment for them or call our office at (203) 438-8919.