Instilling good oral hygiene habits in your children early is the first step in creating healthy smiles that last a lifetime. Getting your kids on board with daily teeth cleaning can be difficult, however. Here, Edward E. Loftspring, D.D.S of Cincinnati, OH, reveals four ways that you can make teeth cleaning fun for your little ones. Working with patients of all ages, this family dentist has more than 30 years of experience helping parents inspire their kids to take care of their teeth.

4 Ways To Make Teeth Cleaning Fun For Kids

1. Make It A Group Activity

When your children are very little, you’ll be the one taking care of their brushing and flossing. Continue this tradition of making teeth cleaning a shared activity. It makes the task more fun for your kids—and gives you ongoing insight to ensure they’re doing the job right.

2. Use A Timer

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth for a full two minutes; this can seem like an eternity to kids. Buy a timer to keep children on track and give them a challenge. You can also make use of initiatives that provide free two-minute videos for kids to watch while brushing.

3. Invest In Fun Tools

There are more oral health care products targeted at kids than ever before in today’s market. Whether it’s a princess toothbrush or a fun flavored toothpaste, investing in kid-friendly dental hygiene products can make oral hygiene more appealing.

4. Create Incentives

Think of healthy rewards to inspire your child to take care of their teeth. From a new toothbrush to a trip to the toy store, there are many ways to motivate kids. You can also create a “star chart” for your child, giving them a gold star for every round of successful brushing and flossing. Once they’ve amassed a certain amount of stars, reward them accordingly.

With a bit of creativity, it is possible to get kids excited about brushing and flossing. For more ideas on how to instill good oral health habits in children, look to Edward E. Loftspring, D.D.S. Serving the Cincinnati, OH, community, this family dentist is dedicated to making patients—both big and small—feel at ease with dental hygiene. Call (513) 721-5924 to schedule an appointment