At Dr. Carol E. Follette’s Dental Practice in Santa Monica, we pride ourselves on being a family dentist that you can trust. Sometimes some members of your family are less than happy to have to visit the dentist though. Dental health is important and keeping your teeth in top shape is a lifelong commitment. That’s why it’s so important to get your kids excited about dental hygiene. It’s not always easy, but here are a few ways that you can do just that.
Brush and Floss Together
Kids love to copy their parents. By brushing and flossing together, you can make caring about proper dental hygiene a fun family activity. Show them the proper brushing and flossing techniques and help them when needed. Younger kids also frequently want to copy older kids, so their older siblings could be of assistance here as well.
A Fun Toothbrush
Sometimes getting children excited about dental health is as easy as buying a toothbrush that features one of their favorite characters. If getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a battle, maybe a brush that reminds them of their favorite movie or cartoon character can help.
More Kid-Friendly Toothpaste
Some children don’t like the minty taste offered by most toothpastes. Fortunately, there are a few kid-friendly options available. Your kids may be more excited about brushing their teeth if you opt for a toothpaste that tastes like bubblegum, watermelon, or another fun flavor. They might even be more inclined to care about their dental health if you let them pick out their toothpaste and toothbrush at the store.
Make Brushing Teeth Into A Dance Party
If fun toothbrushes and toothpastes don’t do the trick, you might need to make brushing your teeth more fun. Take a portable speaker or your smartphone into the bathroom and turn brushing into a dance party. Blast a song that your kids love and dance while you brush. Your kids will enjoy themselves and eventually see oral care as a fun activity as opposed to a boring chore.
Offer Rewards
One great way to get children interested in their dental hygiene is by making proper oral care into a fun game. Keep track of how often your child brushes and reward them when they’ve brushed twice per day all week long. Whether it’s a trip to the park or another fun activity with the family, teaching your kids that focusing on good brushing habits can lead to good things can keep them excited about their dental hygiene.
Make Dentist Appointments Fun
Here at Dr. Carol E. Follette’s Dental Practice, we try to make every dental appointment for children as enjoyable and stress-free as we can. We always make sure that going to the dentist doesn’t have to be a scary experience for them, and there are more steps that you can take to make going to the dentist even more fun. After an appointment is a great time to catch a movie or find another fun activity to do together. When your child associates good times with going to the dentist, they’ll be more likely to want to come back and care about their dental health.