When you finally introduce your child to their oral hygiene routine, you may find that getting them to pick up this habit is difficult. Like cleaning their room or putting away their clothes, they may be a little resistant to the task. However, their dental care routine is incredibly important, which is why you should do everything in your power to make oral hygiene fun.
At Hendersonville Family Dental, our team understands that getting your child to adopt a regular oral hygiene routine can be difficult. As they get older, you may begin to experience a bit more pushback than you expect. If you want to learn some of the best tips to make oral hygiene fun for your child, keep reading to see what our team recommends.
1. Brush Your Teeth Together
If you want to make oral hygiene fun for your child, you might want to consider brushing your teeth with them. Children often learn best when watching you do something. By watching you brush your teeth and brushing their teeth alongside you, they can pick up on good oral hygiene habits, while feeling like a grown-up. The next time you go to brush your teeth, don’t forget to bring them along.
2. Let Them Pick Their Toothbrush
A lack of enthusiasm about brushing their teeth isn’t so surprising, especially in younger children. However, if you let them choose their toothbrush, it might be a great way to make oral hygiene fun for them. Pick out a few toothbrushes with their favorite cartoon characters on them, and allow them to choose their favorite. By choosing their favorite toothbrush, they’ll feel like they have more control over their oral hygiene routine, making the experience more positive.
3. Pick a Fun Toothpaste
When you walk down the oral hygiene aisle at the grocery store, you might overlook the children’s toothpaste and instead opt for a more minty toothpaste. However, if you want to make oral hygiene fun for your child, it might be a good idea to offer them a fun toothpaste. Children’s toothpaste comes in fun colors and flavors, making tooth brushing more fun for them. If you don’t like flavored toothpaste, look for one with their favorite cartoon character instead.
4. Create a Reward Chart
To make oral hygiene fun for your child, much like you may have done while potty training, it might be a good time to create a reward chart. Provide them with a sticker for every time they brush and floss their teeth. Set goals for them to reach, and plan small prizes or outings to reward reaching these goals. By continuing to provide praise and rewards, they will be more likely to adopt these habits without you needing to tell them to do them.
5. Play a Song They Love
One of the most important parts of your child’s oral hygiene routine is that they are brushing their teeth for an adequate amount of time. You should be brushing for at least two minutes to remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles. To make oral hygiene fun for them and ensure they are meeting this two-minute mark, consider playing a song they love while they brush their teeth. Tell them to keep brushing until the song is over to ensure they’re brushing well.
6. Read Books about Dentist Visits
Your child may not be enthusiastic about caring for their teeth because it just seems like another chore to do. However, if you want to make oral hygiene fun for your child, consider finding a book or episode of their favorite show that features the character doing these things. By watching their favorite character partake in these activities, they may be more enthusiastic about doing them themself.
7. Choose a Great Dentist
A good dental team plays a major role in whether your child thinks oral hygiene is fun. If they are incredibly anxious heading into upcoming dental appointments or you feel that your current dental team isn’t a good fit, consider looking elsewhere. Not every dentist is going to be a good fit for your child, so search for a good one until you feel as though they are a good fit for your child. Additionally, in your search for a good dentist, don’t forget to read testimonials to get a good idea of what visits to the dentist will be like.
Make Oral Hygiene Fun at Hendersonville Family Dental
Finding a good dental team can be incredibly difficult, especially for your child. If you are looking for a dental team to help you make oral hygiene fun for your child, turn to our team at Hendersonville Family Dental. For almost a decade, our team has provided the most reliable and compassionate dental care to patients across the Hendersonville area.
Whether you need to schedule a dental cleaning, cosmetic dentistry services, or something else entirely, we provide a variety of dental services to meet every patient’s needs perfectly. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our team or if you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to contact us today.