Fun Ways to Get Your Children to Care About Brushing

Starting your children out with proper oral hygiene habits is a valuable tool in setting them up for success as they grow up. Poor oral hygiene can lead to other health issues later in life, so you want to get your kids excited about brushing and taking care of their teeth in general. But how can you convince your kids that brushing is fun? Read on to learn some fun tips from downtown Los Angeles dentist Samaritan Dental Arts.

Establish the Why of Brushing Early

Dental experts recommend establishing consistent oral hygiene routines as early as possible. Some kids will gravitate to the process with no complaints, while others just may hate having something like that in their mouth. There are training toothbrushes you can get to introduce your toddler to the process but for many toddlers who constantly ask, “Why?” just explaining the reasoning behind what you’re doing just might do the trick. Don’t scare your child but, in an age appropriate way, let them know the importance of taking care of their teeth so they last a lifetime.

Make it Fun

One of the easiest things you can do is let your child choose a fun toothbrush. Whether it’s Disney characters, cars, dinosaurs or other cartoon characters, there are a variety of children’s toothbrushes to choose from. Let your child choose one that interests them, and you might even find some fun toothpaste to match. Give them some ownership of the process and the complaints about having to brush might disappear.

Kids are competitive, especially with their parents. Try making a game out of brushing and setting a good example at the same time. Challenge your child to see if they can brush better than you and you just might get them motivated enough to try to “beat” you.

In making it a game, you can also set up a rewards system that directly draws them back to good oral hygiene. It’s not a good idea to try and pay your kids but maybe give them a little wiggle room at bedtime if they brush before bed. For example, maybe let them stay up an extra 15 or 30 minutes. You can set larger goals as well. For example, maybe offer something important that they want after a consistent 30 days of quality brushing. Choose a reward that really means something to your child that will reward them for establishing this important lifelong habit.

Lead by Example

If making it fun just doesn’t work, then you might just have to make brushing your teeth at the same time the routine of the night. Lead by example and model good brushing habits to your children. Young children want to be like mom and dad so make sure you are teaching them right!

Finding the Right Dentist

If you are looking for a dentist in downtown Los Angeles, contact the professionals at Samaritan Dental Arts. They are open on Saturdays and offer evening appointments. You can easily schedule an appointment online. You can also fill out the necessary forms, meet our team of professionals and view a complete list of services. We offer flexible payment options and a caring staff ready to help ease your fears.

Don’t take your dental health for granted and don’t set a bad example for your kids. It might seem like a minor inconvenience now, but if left untreated, you could develop serious issues that could impact your overall health or that of your children. For the best dentist in downtown Los Angeles, make your appointment with Samaritan Dental Arts today.