If your child isn’t enthusiastic about brushing and flossing their teeth every day, it could be because it feels like a chore, or because they’re not entirely sure what the purpose is. With guidance from your family dentist in Fort Mill and a little creativity, you can help inspire a new generation of healthy smiles in your family. Read on to learn five ways to make at-home dental hygiene fun for your children.
Bring Them to an Engaging & Fun Family Dentist
Getting kids involved in learning about and maintaining their oral health can sometimes be as easy as finding a family dentist who’s friendly, exciting, and happy to share their knowledge and fun smile facts with your little one. Not to mention, because family dentists see patients of all ages, they’ll be able to build a great, long-lasting relationship with them that gets them inspired to keep their smile healthy all the way into adulthood.
Get Them a Toothbrush That Plays Their Favorite Song
Nowadays, there are all types of applications and electric toothbrushes that make getting ready for bed feel more like play time instead of a chore. You can let your child choose from an interactive toothbrush that plays their favorite songs from Frozen or Moana to help them know when it has been two minutes since they started brushing, allowing them to dance their way through it!
Reward Them for a Job Well Done
Positive reinforcement is a method of parenting that involves rewarding your child after they do a behavior that you want them to, like remembering to brush their teeth! It’s a great way to show them that you appreciate their effort and has been shown to be one of the most effective models of reinforcing good behavior in children. So, if they consistently remember to brush their teeth for a whole week, you might consider rewarding them by letting them pick out a film to watch for family movie night or choose a special treat next time you go to the grocery store.
Turn Brushing & Flossing into Family Time
Children are very observant and intuitive, which is why modeling good habits is an excellent way to encourage your little one to pick them up. One way you can do this is by turning your nightly brushing and flossing routine into family time by doing it with your child. That way, they can see how important it is to you!
Let Them Pick Out Exciting Toothpaste & Floss Flavors
From bubble gum-flavored toothpaste to minty dental floss, there are a number of kid-friendly dental hygiene products out there that are especially designed to make brushing and flossing more enjoyable. To help them get excited about their dental hygiene routine at home, consider taking them to the grocery store to choose products that taste great and help fight cavities!
About the Practice
At Jasper Dentistry, our team is led by three phenomenal, compassionate, and highly experienced women dentists, Drs. Jasper, Anderson, and Rosati. With collective decades of experience under their belts and a commitment to helping patients of all ages maintain whole and healthy smiles throughout their lives, they’re the top choice for families in Fort Mill. To schedule a checkup and cleaning for your child and take the first step towards helping your little one build a lifelong relationship with a dental home, visit Jasper Dentistry’s website or call 803-548-4353.