Kids will be kids, and that means that they won’t always make decisions and behave in ways that are in their best interest. So it’s up to us as parents to help them along, and encourage them as best we can. Toothcare is one of those areas where parental involvement is usually needed. Here are some tips that might be helpful to you in getting your kids to take care of their teeth and promote their ongoing dental health…
1) Go digital!
1) Go digital!Want your child to brush long enough and well enough? There’s an app for that! Many, in fact! One free app I found called Toothbrush Timer instructs your child on which part of the mouth to brush and for how long. Other features include a tracker for how old your toothbrush is and how long it has been since your child’s last dental appointment.
2) Brushing to the beat!
Check out some of the more entertaining toothbrushes on the market like “Tooth Tunes” by Arm & Hammer that play two minutes of music like Queen’s “We Will Rock You” or The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” to add some musical inspiration to your child’s brushing routine.
3) Reward good dental care
A trip to the dollar store can get you everything you need to make a fun and motivating sticker board for your child. Grab a piece of cardboard, write down the days of the week across the top and draw two boxes below each day where the stickers will go each time your child has brushed. At the end of the week, if all of the spaces are filled with stickers, your child gets a fun little prize that you can also pick up when you buy your stickers!
4) Show your child the consequences of not brushing
While I always try to encourage a more positive and rewarding approach to teaching, sometimes it just won’t do the trick… especially during those tricky “tween” years. If you’ve exhausted all other options, you might want to try this one… Visit Google and click on their Image Search. Type in the words “gum
disease” and print out one of the nastiest pictures you can find. Tape the photo to your child’s bathroom mirror explaining that this is what can easily happen when someone neglects their teeth. It may make them think twice about not brushing or flossing. I’d only recommend this when nothing else works and would definitely only use this approach with older kids and teens… some of those photos can be pretty scary!
5) Make flossing fun
Traditional floss can be awkward for little hands. There are many flossers now available that are especially designed for kids that are much easier to manage.
6) Make dental-friendly foods and drinks available
6) Make dental-friendly foods and drinks availableLimit juice and soda pop intake and provide healthy snack options that not only don’t cause cavities, but can actually help clean your child’s teeth in between brushing. For more information on food and your child’s dental health, see my articles Some Scaaary Facts On Candy To Consider This Halloween and Diet And Your Dental Health.
7) Take your kids to a child-friendly dental office
Make sure your children form positive associations with the dentist from an early age to ensure that they are motivated to care for their teeth for the rest of their lives. We love kids at Brantford North Dental and are proud to say that our younger patients love us right back!
Steven Deskin is a Dentist in general practice.
