How to Encourage Children to Brush Teeth
Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is a great way to protect not only your oral health, but also the overall health of your entire body. Passing on these habits to your children is crucial so they can have a healthy smile well into adulthood.
But teaching toddlers is never easy. How can you teach them to brush their teeth in a way they understand? Better yet, how can you teach them in a way that makes them excited about protecting their smile?
to brush their teeth can be frustrating at first, but it is ultimately rewarding for both you and your child. Let’s take a look at some of the recommendations our pediatric dentist has for teaching children how to brush their teeth.
1. Sing Songs
Does your child have a favorite song? Maybe your child likes to sing a song they learned in school or hum the theme song for their favorite TV show. These are both options to help your child associate brushing their teeth with positive experiences in their life.
Let your child choose what song they want you to sing during teeth brushing time. The time you spend together not only reinforces healthy dental habits for your child, but can also serve as a bonding time for both of you.
2. Let Them Pick a Toothbrush
Letting your child pick out their toothbrush is a great way to empower them. Your child will be more excited to brush their teeth if they can do it with the brush they picked out.
A child’s toothbrush in their favorite color or with their favorite cartoon character can do wonders to get them excited about healthy habits. Don’t be surprised if your child wants to brush their teeth as soon as you leave the store!
3. Set an Example
Let your child see you as you brush your teeth twice a day. In their early years, children take cues from their parents to determine what is expected from them. You may even set a routine where both you and your child brush your teeth together.
Be sure to avoid acting as though brushing your teeth is a chore. Your child will take cues from you about how to feel about brushing your teeth or even . This also extends to how you approach teaching your child to brush their teeth in the first place. If you’re frustrated or annoyed or worried about the lesson, your child will be, too. Have patience, and remember that a positive attitude is more important than a perfect technique or a quick process.
Use Your Imagination
Your child may struggle to understand why brushing their teeth is so important. Make sure to teach them using words and concepts that they can understand.
For example, to teach your child about cavities, it may be helpful to ask them to draw a picture of the cavities or “the bad guys” they must protect their teeth against. You may be surprised to see the creativity drawn across the page.
Hang your child’s picture up in the bathroom to serve as a constant reminder for your child to brush their teeth and prevent cavities. This visual reminder can help them understand why they’re brushing their teeth at a level they can understand.
Practice Brushing
If your child is anxious about brushing their teeth for the first time, choose one of their favorite stuffed animals or dolls and ask them to practice brushing on them. Talk about brushing with your child while they’re practicing, asking questions like, “Is [Toy’s name] happy about having a clean mouth?”
This type of interaction can help decrease your child’s stress. Once they see that their own toy survived the teeth brushing unscathed, they won’t be so nervous about brushing their own teeth.
Help Your Child Protect Their Smile
Our Naples, FL, pediatric dentist is dedicated to helping children learn oral health habits that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions about your child’s oral health, call The Modern Dentist today at (239) 591-3330, or contact us online.
This blog post has been updated.