Getting Kids to Brush

Children that take good care of their teeth today are much less likely to need complicated dental care down the road. That being said, we understand that getting kids to brush their teeth can be a real challenge. We’ve put together some tips you can use to help make brushing easy and fun.

Make It a Family Event

One of the easiest ways to help children brush consistently is to start a routine of brushing with them. When you brush with your children, it helps to cement in them that brushing is a positive experience and that it can even be fun.

Track Their Progress

A great way to help them stay consistent is to keep track of their progress with a sticker chart. Every time they brush their teeth, you can give them a sticker to put on their progress chart. Once they have made it a set number of days in a row, you can award a prize.

The prize doesn’t have to be big or complicated and can even involve dental care. For example, the prize could be letting them pick out a new toothbrush that has their favorite character on it.

Make it a Game

While proper brushing technique is important, it can also be fun. Making it a game can help change the way kids look at dental care.

Brushing Apps

There are many great brushing apps that can help kids brush for two minutes every time. One app, Brush DJ, lets you pick a song on your phone and plays it for two minutes while you brush. Start the timer and start a dance party during your oral care sessions.

You can also try Brush Teeth With Momo. This app features the colorful character Momo that brushes its teeth with your child. They can earn points for brushing to feed and dress up Momo. There are many great brushing apps out there. Try a few and find the one that works best for you and your family.

Children’s Brushing Books

Reading is another great tool you can use to teach kids about proper dental care. Check out Brush Your Teeth, Please: A Pop-up Book which features different animals teaching kids about brushing and flossing their teeth.

Sesame Street Ready, Set, Brush! A Pop-Up Book is another great book to help teach kids about brushing their teeth. It features Elmo and his friends as they explain the right way to take care of teeth. There are a plethora of fantastic children’s books about dental care. Try reading a few different books and find the one that connects best with your kids.

Let Them Brush Your Teeth

If your children are at the age where you have to brush their teeth for them, then try letting them brush your teeth as well. It can help children understand brushing easier and they are more likely to let you brush their teeth if they get to get in on the fun too.

At the end of the day, the goal should be to make taking care of their teeth as positive and compelling as possible. The habits laid down today can impact them in major ways years down the road.

Visit Oakland Family Dental

While brushing twice daily for at least two minutes each time is important, it doesn’t replace regular biannual checkups with Dr. Sheehan. She delivers bright, happy smiles to the whole family.

At Oakland Family Dental, we offer a wide variety of services to help you and your family get the dental care you deserve. From dental cleanings and whitening treatments to Invisalign therapy and dental implants, Oakland Family Dental has the services you need for stunning smiles for the whole family. Schedule your next visit with Dr. Sheehan today.