Children should start visiting pediatric dental specialists before they grow their first teeth. Toddlers must brush their teeth daily to keep their gums, tongues, and teeth healthy and plaque-free. Here are four pieces of advice to make this task more fun for young people.

How Can You Encourage Children to Brush Their Teeth? 

1. Create a Goal Chart

Teach your kids that reaching for goals comes with rewards. Create a chart with space for each day and have the child fill in the area with a sticker or colored marker when they brush their teeth. 

If the child brushes for a week, offer them a small reward like a dinner they love or extra time at the park. When they extend their brushing streak to a month, provide a special prize like a trip to a museum.

2. Sing a Song

Kids are often unsure of how long to brush and may scrub their mouths for a moment and say they’re done. Make sure they’re doing a thorough job that a pediatric dental team would approve of by singing a song as the child brushes. Pick a tune they love and play it on a smartphone, so they know they can’t stop brushing until the final beat fades away. 

3. Make it a Habit

People are more likely to latch onto new routines if they attach the new goals to old habits. For example, your family may always encourage the kids to go to the bathroom right after breakfast.

Make sure the little ones wash their hands and then brush their teeth. Follow this pattern every day to make oral care a healthy habit. 

4. Be a Positive Example

Kids mimic the adults around them. Parents and guardians may find their little ones are more interested in pediatric dental care when they see the adults brushing and flossing their teeth. Follow your dental hygiene habits at the same time as the children to reinforce that these are important tasks for people of all ages.

Families interested in pediatric dental care should visit Dental Wellness of Milford in Cincinnati, OH. The oral care team has been in business for more than 40 years, offering general dental appointments plus root canals, surgery, emergency dentistry, and more. Call the Milford-area practice at (513) 575-9600 or visit the website for information on their dentistry for kids and teens.