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Teaching kids the importance of maintaining good oral health is one of the many vital life lessons they’ll need to learn early on. One of the most effective ways to turn activities like daily teeth cleaning into a lifelong habit is to make brushing more fun. Here are a few tips to help teach your kids how to practice good dental hygiene habits from the pediatric dentistry experts at Pediatric Dental Group.

Do the timer challenge. One great way to help your child brush his teeth for the full two minutes recommended by the American Dental Association is to do the timer challenge. Using a timer can be extremely helpful in negotiating with small children because time is unambiguous and cannot be debated. Start by setting a timer for 20 seconds, and challenge your child to brush his teeth the very best he can until the timer goes off. Gradually increase the time each week by an additional 20 seconds until he’s brushing for two minutes every time.

Play the 2-minute brushing song. Songs are often a great way to add a little fun to the daily schedule. Aquafresh created a free, catchy 2-minute brushing song called, “I Love Brushing My Teeth,” which you can easily download onto your phone or computer. Then, whenever it’s time for your children to brush their teeth, you can just hit play. If you’re musically inclined, you can even make up your own song too!

Play “follow the leader.” Kids learn by example, so this game is a great way for you to show your child exactly how to brush his teeth and make it fun for him. All you need to do is brush your teeth when he brushes, and take turns leading each other through the brushing process: maybe you start with the top first, then go to the sides, then to the bottom teeth. Letting him lead the game as well will not only help him view brushing as a fun activity, but it will give you the chance to make sure he’s brushing correctly.

Involve your child in the whole brushing process. From going to the store and picking out the brush to putting the brush back in the holder after he’s done, your child will enjoy brushing his teeth more if he gets to be involved every step of the way. This will help you reinforce brushing as something that’s a lifelong habit, as well as giving him a little freedom to make a few choices of his own, right down to picking the characters on his toothbrush.

Pediatric Dental Group has been providing dental services that are specially tailored to the needs of young children since 1966. The team is dedicated to providing customized, gentle care to each child who walks through the door. To schedule a dental appointment for your child, call (808) 593-8828 for the Honolulu office or (808) 245-2131 for the Lihue office today.

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