As soon as your child gets their first teeth, brushing and flossing are essential for good oral health. We understand that getting your child to brush and floss every night can feel like a real challenge. But this is a battle for which you should hold a firm boundary. Follow these tips to have more success in encouraging your child to clean their teeth every day.
- Have Them Choose Their Toothbrush & Toothpaste
- Make the 2 Minutes Fun
- Provide a Small Reward
- Brush Together
One way to encourage your child to brush and floss every night is by letting them choose their own dental products. There are many character and color choices for children. Kids may be more likely to look forward to brushing thanks to bubblegum-flavored toothpaste or an electric toothbrush that lights up.
Allowing your child to make choices like this is a safe way to practice their decision-making skills. The older and more independent your child becomes, the more choices they will need to make. If you decide everything for them as a child, they can become paralyzed by decisions as they get older.
Teach your child to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. Play an engaging song or video during this time to encourage your child to brush for the allotted time. Time will fly by and brushing for the full two minutes will gradually become a habit.
Reward charts can be a helpful visual so kids can see their progress in completing certain tasks. The reward for maintaining good oral hygiene doesn’t have to be crazy. We recommend offering a non-sugar reward, such as a sticker, extra story, or a special outing when a certain number of brushing and flossing sessions are completed.
Completing your oral hygiene routine with your child can be quality time spent together. It is likely that if your child sees you cleaning your teeth, they will want to imitate you by brushing and flossing their teeth too.
Combine Daily Brushing & Flossing with Routine Visits!
Even if your child brushes and flosses every night, routine dental exams and cleanings are still critical to keep their teeth and gums healthy. During this time, our expert team will thoroughly examine and clean your child’s teeth, and provide tips on how to promote a long-lasting healthy smile.
