Brushing twice a day is important to healthy teeth and gums… But what if your child does not want to? With a little creativity and a couple of inexpensive products, you can help your child develop a positive attitude and a healthy habit by making tooth brushing fun and rewarding.
- Pick a fun toothbrush. As simple as it seems, letting your child select a toothbrush with a favorite character or color can make brushing seem much more fun and playful. In addition, some toothbrush designs are more than just stationary toothbrushes: some designs today offer flashing lights, spinning brushes, and even music! What fun!
- Make brushing taste great. For some children, mint toothpaste is far too strong of a flavor. Rather, experiment with children’s toothpaste flavors like bubble gum, strawberry, or watermelon. These kid-friendly options will make it pleasant for little taste buds and make it more likely to help them get through tooth brushing time without a struggle.
- Brush with your child. Children love to be included in grown-up activities. Brushing your teeth with your child means you are modeling the behavior you want to instill while also making it more fun. Remember to brush your own teeth correctly, by using a gentle circular motion, for two minutes, to set a good example for your child to see.
- Use a timer. Two minutes can feel like a long time to brush for a child. To prevent your child from cutting brushing time too short, use a traditional timer or a phone app to track the time for you.
- Bring a favorite toy into the action. Give your child’s favorite plush, doll, or action figure a toothbrush of its own so your child can pretend to brush its teeth. This playful activity can reinforce the idea that brushing can be a fun and pleasant daily habit for your child.
- Use a smartphone app. Bring in music, characters, and animation to add more fun and excitement to tooth brushing time. The popular BrushDJ app and Disney Magic Timer app are two of many apps dedicated to making brushing fun for kids.
- Track and reward good daily habits. Stickers and rewards can offer a great way to encourage desired behaviors and remind busy grown-ups to encourage a consistent daily routine.
With a little creativity, and some simple, affordable items, tooth brushing can become a fun and consistent part of your child’s daily routine… today, and for a lifetime. If you need help with getting your children and getting them started on their oral health habits, ask your dentist at All Pro Dental or read our children’s dental tips on our website. To schedule an appointment or with any questions, you can call us at (781) 853 – 0111 or contact us online.
