Girls (and boys!) just want to have fun, and that includes when it comes to their oral health! Teaching your kids to enjoy caring for their smiles from an early age is an excellent way to make sure they maintain their teeth and gums for a lifetime. If you’re looking for some inspiration to help them have a good time taking care of those tiny teeth, here are a few ways that you can make oral healthcare fun!
Reward Good Behavior
When your kids do well at school, they get good grades. When they do well at sports, they win championships. So why not reward them for taking excellent care of their oral health? While sure, the real prize is a healthy smile, encouraging younger children to brush and floss regularly will help teach them proper oral hygiene so that when they’re older, they’ll already know how to do it and understand why it’s so important without the need for a reward. To do it, create a reward chart with stickers. Kids can pick out prizes like small toys, a fun outing, or additional screen time on their favorite device after a week or month of consistent oral hygiene.
Make a Game of It
There are plenty of apps available on most app stores to help time your child’s brushing (aim for two minutes) with a game, or you can make one on your own by setting a two-minute timer and seeing how well they did by having them chew a plaque disclosing tablet (available on Amazon) when they’re done!
Gear Up
Children love making big decisions on their own, and that includes picking out their own oral hygiene gear. Let them choose their own toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss so they feel like they have a say in their own care and help them differentiate their tools from the rest of the family.
Join the Fun
Kids learn by example and showing them that even their parent or guardian brushes and flosses their teeth can help encourage them to do the same. This has the added benefit of teaching them proper techniques, because they will see the correct way to do it by observing you. Furthermore, if you see them doing something inaccurately, you can quickly and kindly correct them, so they’ll know what to do going forward.
Stick to a Routine
Routines help kids learn, and a healthy oral hygiene routine will remind them to care for their teeth consistently. Pick a time each morning and every night before bed to brush and then stick to it. Eventually, they won’t need to be reminded and brushing and flossing before and after bed will become second nature.
Remember, kids are more likely to agree to routine things like caring for their teeth if they have fun doing it. If you’re struggling to get your children to stick to a healthy oral hygiene routine, try these helpful tips and see if anything changes. If you still need some creative inspiration, reach out to your dentist for help!
About Dr. Podray-Donovan
Dr. Susan Podray-Donovan grew up admiring the amazing work of her orthodontist dad and even used to help him out at his practice as a teen. Even then she knew that oral health was her passion, which is why both her and her brother eventually followed in their father’s impressive footsteps! If you’re like Dr. Dr. Podray-Donovan, you know that protecting your child’s teeth and gums is essential to setting them up for a lifetime of excellent oral health, which is why she and the team at Village Pediatric Dentistry are so proud to be trusted with their smiles. To schedule an exam and cleaning for your family, please visit our website or call us today at 678-456-5572.