Your kids take after you in more ways that you ever expected – not only are they smart and funny, they’ve also inherited some of your trademark stubbornness. Getting them to brush their teeth can be difficult, but with these tips from your premier family dentist in Indianapolis, you can make your children’s oral hygiene routine enjoyable and ensure they use the proper technique. Find out the best ways to get your kids to brush their teeth in this post from the team at Indy Dental Group.
Why Are Kids Reluctant To Brush Their Teeth?
As your expert dentist in 46260, we know that kids often see their oral hygiene routine in the same way they view cleaning their room or washing the dishes. Since children view brushing their teeth as a chore, it’s essential to keep them engaged and make caring for their smiles fun. Use the following tips to help inspire your child to brush and floss.
#1 – Start Young
Parents should wipe baby teeth with a wet piece of gauze after feedings as soon as they erupt in the mouth, and children should have their first dental visit no later than their first birthday. By getting kids acquainted with their oral healthcare professionals at an early age, we can establish a lifelong relationship and help keep their smiles bright no matter how old they are.
#2 – Let Them Choose
Kids enjoy brushing and flossing more when they have a choice in the oral hygiene products they get to use, so let your son or daughter pick out their own toothbrush. Children can use whatever flavor of toothpaste they like best as long as it has fluoride in it – from mint to bubblegum and everything in between allowing them to choose makes brushing a better experience.
#3 – Make It Fun
To keeps kids engaged, make your routine fun by trying the following:
- Brush right alongside your child and have them mirror your technique
- Play music while you brush to make sure you do this for two minutes
- Play Simon Says with brushing different parts of your teeth
- Have a contest to make the most bubbles while brushing
- Set up a sticker chart and give fun rewards for brushing
- Watch cartoons that make brushing seem fun
BONUS – Floss
As soon as erupting teeth start to come in side-by-side and touch laterally, parents should floss for their kids using aslow, delicate technique and a satin style dental tape to make this as comfortable as possible. Children are never too young to benefit from flossing as long as you take your time and use a gentle approach.
Now that you know how to get your child to brush their teeth, schedule an appointment for your son or daughter to let our dentists give them the deep clean they deserve!