One of the most rewarding and joyful experiences someone can have is raising kids. This is a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding.
A big part of being a parent is teaching your child important life skills and habits. This includes, but is not limited to, how to maintain a proper diet, how to interact with other people, how to brush their teeth, etc.
This is often a difficult but a worthwhile endeavor. Our dentists in Shelby Township, MI, have developed a number of strategies to help you encourage your kids to brush their teeth.
Your Kids Will Copy You
Naturally, kids watch their parents and then try to duplicate whatever it is they are doing. If you are able to adjust your teeth cleaning routine to match the schedule you want your kids to be on, it will seem natural to your kids and you can capitalize on their inclination to be just like mom or dad.
Children are also notable helpers and love finding ways to help you throughout the day. If they are interested in helping you , use that opportunity to make an easy game out of brushing each other’s teeth.
Make it Fun
Forcing anything on your kids will rarely, if ever, end well. Chances are, they will end up resenting it. It’s important to be more open and conversational about the value of teeth brushing rather than staunch and demanding.
You should be able to find a toothbrush that’s either their favorite color or features a cartoon character, animal, or other favorite toy as part of the design.
Many toothpastes designed specifically for kids are naturally sweetened or lightly flavored, which will certainly help them be more willing to brush regularly.
Get Creative with It
There are lots of different ways to make brushing your teeth more creative. You can make a game between you and your kids over who can do a better job brushing.
You could also make brushing a time they can listen to a favorite song, or have them practice skills such as reciting the alphabet or counting while they watch you brush. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can craft a unique, fun story to tell the kids about .
Use Positive Reinforcement
Using positive reinforcement can really help encourage your kids to maintain good habits over time. The rewards can be very basic, like rewarding your kids with 15 extra minutes of playtime before bedtime for a good day of cleaning and brushing their teeth.
Some parents lump oral care into other healthy routines and set an incentive for so many weeks or a month of sticking to a plan.
Schedule an Appointment Today
What we want is for your kids to have a positive view of taking care of their oral health, and brushing their teeth is a major part of that.
Our are experts at talking with people, kids and parents, about the importance of brushing their teeth and maintaining good oral health overall. If you want to schedule an appointment, you can give us a call today at (586) 992-0814.
