For some parents, getting their kids on board with proper dental care habits can be a struggle. Depending on your child’s age, this may include a daily protest or a lackluster attempt at oral hygiene that could result in future problems.

The caring pediatric dentists at Pedodontic Associates, with locations on Oahu and Maui, offer some helpful suggestions for getting kids to floss regularly, including:

• Floss Together: Getting your kids to practice good oral hygiene methods can be as easy as modeling the process, so make flossing a family activity. When the kids see you flossing, they are more likely to pick up the good habit.
• Offer a Reward: Everything is more fun when there’s a reward involved. In this case, it can be small, such as adding stickers to a chart so children can visually see their progress. If you’re working towards a larger reward, you may offer something like a book or game after they get a good checkup or floss regularly for a month or two.
• Make Flossing a Game: You don’t want flossing to become an unpleasant chore you’re nagging the kids to do, so find a unique way to make a game out of it. Whether that’s a friendly competition with Mom, Dad, or a sibling or incorporating a silly song while flossing, there are endless ways to make dental care a lot more fun for everyone.

Good dental hygiene, including flossing regularly to remove food particles and bacteria, should begin at an early age. Building healthy habits should not be a struggle, but if brushing and flossing are met with resistance in your home, there are ways to make them enjoyable activities. The friendly staff at Pedodontic Associates is available to help with any questions you may have about kids’ dental hygiene.

Call Pedodontic Associates at (808) 487-7933 in Aiea, (808) 735-1733 in Honolulu, or (808) 877-0066 in Kahului to schedule an appointment, or visit them online for more information about pediatric dentistry and dental care for kids. You can also like their Facebook page for the latest updates.