Do you have trouble getting your child to brush their teeth? It is so important to teach them the importance of good oral health habits, but it can sometimes be very frustrating if they don’t cooperate. It may be time to schedule an appointment in Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office. She and her staff will talk to them about brushing their teeth and make visiting the dentist fun!

Dr. Joy Lunan has also put together a list of tips to help you and your little one enjoy brushing time at home:

Let Them Pick Their Own Toothbrush

Picking out their own toothbrush gets them involved and gives them a little control. Make it a fun activity that you do together. Maybe they can even help pick one for you too! A brightly colored toothbrush or one with their favorite super hero sometimes will do the trick. Have them choose a toothpaste that they enjoy as well, it’s a great way to give them some of the responsibility of caring for their teeth. This makes sure they aren’t using a paste they don’t like the taste or textrue of. Just check to make sure the toothpaste is ADA approved and contains fluoride. 

Sing Or Dance It Out

We all know how kids love to sing, dance and play! Some kids like to brush if their parents sing a silly song to them while they do it. Perhaps you could play their favorite song on the radio and they can dance while they brush. The recommended time for brushing is two minutes. If you are singing and they are dancing, the time will go by in the wink of an eye since they are distracted. It gives them extra motivation needed to get the task done.

Create a Timer Game 

We’ve all heard kids say to us “are we there yet?”. Often they says this because they don’t yet understand the concept of time like us adults do. For the kids who haven’t yet mastered how long two minutes is, it may feel like an eternity. Help them to understand by setting a timer for two minutes and help them count down as the seconds run out. This game helps distract the kids and provides them with a real sense of how much time they need to brush. 

Story Time 

Reading stories about brushing your teeth is a good way to teach them the importance of good oral health care. Try making up your own story about teeth brushing. Maybe the character in your story is simlilar to your child’s personality and there is a “cavity monster” in it too. The more your child gets involved in the story the more they will enjoy brushing their own teeth. You can try telling parts of a story to them while they brush. Leave off with a cliff-hanger so they want to know what happens next. You can pick up where you left off at the next brushing session. This is incentive to get them back to the next brushing time, they can’t hear the next part of the story until they are brushing their teeth again. 

Video Games or Programs About Tooth Brushing  

There are some great video games online that kids can play to help teach them about the importance of brushing. Whether they are building the tooth fairy’s castle or helping spongebob clean his teeth, there are many to choose from.  There are printable activity sheets that your kids can color in or puzzles for them to work out online as well. You can always head to YouTube to look for videos of their favorite characters brushing their teeth. This will reinforce good habits as well let them enjoy their favorite cartoon hero.

Make It A Game   

Try role playing with your child while they are brushing. Let them pretend to be Dr. Lunan while they look in your mouth. Then you get your turn and you see the cavity bugs that need to be cleaned off their teeth.  Kids all have their own personalities and you, as their parent, knows them best. Maybe they like to dress up like a super hero while they brush or maybe they pretend to be taking care of their pets teeth by showing them how to do it like they do. 

Brush Your Teeth Together   

Make brushing a special time that you and your child spend together. Brushing at the same time shows your child that it’s something that everyone has to do – it’s not punishment.  Make it a fun time. Play monkey-see, monkey-do, or Simon Says while you brush. Have them copy what you do. Show them it can be fun, it doesn’t have to be a chore. You should be supervising your child while brushing anyway until about age 8 or 9, so why not join them?

Rewards  

Try a rewards system that works for you. You can base it on points or stars earned, and reward them after so many are collected or instantly depending on the reward. Let them place their sticker on a chart or calender themselves. Maybe they can save them and put them towards a bigger reward. This is a great motivator and reinforces good behavior all while establishing a good oral health routine. It makes things fun and you are less likely to get the job done without tears. 

Good oral hygiene starts as soon as we have teeth in our mouths. Yes, it can definitely be difficult to convince a 3 year old that brushing comes before watching tv. Just as it is for adults, good oral hygiene is crucial for kids. No matter which of these tips works for you, by keeping things lighthearted and enjoyable your kids will look forward to brushing their teeth. Good habits learned while they are young prepares them for life as adults. It prepares their mouths for adult teeth and prevents cavities. Use these tips to create good habits that will last your kids their lifetime.

Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office in Middlebury, CT focuses on helping kids have fun at the dentist. Call us to schedule an exam and cleaning for your child. We do our very best to ensure that your child has a good experience and does not develop a fear of the dentist. We will teach them how to properly clean their teeth and maintain a healthy smile for their whole lives. If you have any questions please call (203) 598-7920.

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