Learning how to brush and floss on their own is a big step for your child. If it seems like your kid needs a little bit of a push to become independent with their at-home dental care, consider trying one of these strategies.
Choose Their Own Supplies
The simple act of letting your child choose their own toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste could get them more excited about their dental care. There are tons of fun styles and brands of brushes on the market with characters from popular kids’ TV shows and books, and toothpastes and flosses have flavored versions these days too. Have your kid tag along with you to the store so they can pick their favorite to add some fun to tooth brushing time.
Put on a Song
The general recommendation is to brush for two minutes, but that can seem like a pretty long time to a kid. If they’re having trouble following through with their routine, you can choose a song that they love and that lasts around two to three minutes to play when they brush their teeth. It’ll make brushing their teeth a whole lot more fun and give them a bit of a distraction so it doesn’t seem like time is dragging on.
Make it Family Time
It seems like kids are always mimicking their parents, whether the parents are aware of it or not. Set a good example by brushing and flossing your teeth at the same time as your child. They’ll still be cleaning their teeth on their own, but they’ll be able to follow what you do and you can make sure they’re doing it correctly.
Set Up a Reward System
Kids love getting rewarded with fun prizes. Consider making a dental care chart or some sort of reward system so they’ll be motivated to keep up with their brushing and flossing. Cleaning their teeth twice a day doesn’t seem so bad when they know there’s a prize or treat waiting for them, and before long it’ll become a natural part of their routine.
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