For many children, oral care and hygiene in general simply aren’t their ideal types of fun. But because teeth cleanings and other aspects of dental care are so critical to maintaining wellness, parents have to come up with creative ways to get kids excited about taking care of their teeth. The caring team from Waterford Dental Health in Waterford, CT, provides some inspiration, below.

Here are five of the team’s best ideas for making dental care fun for children:

• Give Them The Right Tools: When children have a toothbrush with their favorite characters, flavored toothpaste, or other fun dental care tools, they’ll be more inclined to view teeth cleaning as an enjoyable activity.
• Implement A Rewards System: Set up a calendar and place a sticker on each day after your child has brushed and flossed. You can use small prizes to encourage them to stick to their routine.
• Make It A Game: Use a timer and explain to your children the objective is to brush for the entire time. Or, choose a song that’s about two minutes long and explain they must brush until the music stops.
• Brush & Floss Together: Young children are naturally inclined to mimic their parents. If you make teeth cleaning a family activity, chances are, they won’t want to miss out.
• Show Them It’s Important To You, Too: In addition to brushing together, you can also show your child oral wellness is a priority to you by going to the dentist’s office for your own regular teeth cleanings and exams.

To schedule your next teeth cleaning at Waterford Dental Health, make an appointment with one of their professional team members by calling (860) 447-2235. You can also learn more about the practice’s general and cosmetic dentistry services by visiting them online.