Did you struggle to get your kids to brush their teeth? Did they moan, groan and resist tooth-brushing time each day? As most parents know, getting kids to perform any new behaviour requires a lot of patience and persistence. Here are some tips that can help make the task of tooth-brushing second nature for your child.
Create a Routine
It’s important to create a routine around tooth-brushing. The best way to do this is to establish a certain time of day that your child will brush their teeth. Try brushing teeth right after getting out of the shower or after breakfast. This can help kids to see tooth-brushing as part of their morning routine and make it a habit. There are many benefits to having a consistent tooth-brushing routine. Most importantly, it can help you avoid the dreaded “tooth-brushing battle” with your kids. A routine also helps children become more self-aware and responsible for their own oral health. It can also be a great way to encourage positive communication between you and your child.
Offer Rewards
Rewards can be a great way to encourage kids to brush their teeth. Pick a time of day where brushing teeth is a part of your child’s daily routine, like after breakfast. Try rewarding your child for brushing their teeth for a set amount of time each day. For example, if your child brushes his or her teeth for at least two minutes, he or she gets a sticker on a reward chart. After a certain number of days with a clean tooth-brush, they get a small reward. You can choose a reward that is age appropriate. Some ideas include a new tooth-brush, a small toy, or a book. You can also use rewards to help your child improve his or her brushing technique. Brushie, an online kids’ toothbrush subscription, lets you pick and choose which teeth you want to brush, plus it gives you rewards for doing it well.
Make It Fun
Don’t forget to make brushing fun! There are so many different types of tooth-brushes, some with a variety of colorful bristles, others with built-in countertop holders, timers and even apps to help you and your child brush together. Tooth-paste comes in many different flavors and brands, some of which even include small toys in the tube. There are even teeth-brushes designed for kids with very small hands. The key to making brushing fun is to find the tools and methods that your child enjoys. When it comes to making brushing fun, the options are truly endless. However, the most important thing is to choose a method that your child enjoys. This way, kids will be much more likely to stick with the brushing routine and will have a better experience in the long-run.
Establish Accountability
There are many ways to hold your children accountable for their own oral health. If your child is a bit older, it can be helpful to let them know that they are responsible for keeping their teeth clean. Alternatively, you can assign a specific amount of money that they must spend on oral hygiene products each month. This can be a good way to teach your children how to manage their money while also helping to keep their teeth clean. Another way to hold your kids accountable for their own oral hygiene is to make them responsible for cleaning their own tooth-brush. By assigning this task to your child, you can help them to become more self-sufficient and responsible for their own oral health. You can also use this as an opportunity to help your child improve their brushing technique.
Don’t Give Up!
If your child resists tooth-brushing initially, don’t give up. Be as patient as possible while you are trying to get your kids to develop this new routine. While you may find that your kids resist tooth-brushing at first, there are plenty of ways to encourage them to brush their teeth. Some kids may be more receptive to visual or auditory motivation, whereas others may respond better to tactile stimulation. Try different techniques until you find what works best for your child. Keep in mind that the type of tooth-brush and tooth-paste you use can also play a role in how likely your child is to brush his or her teeth. Some tooth-brushes are designed with special features that can help to encourage kids to brush their teeth, such as timers that help track the length of brushing.
Brush Together – For Better Results
Brushing your teeth in front of your child can not only help you to develop good oral hygiene habits, but also help you and your child to form a closer bond. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology revealed that when mothers and daughters brush their teeth together, it significantly increases the amount of language that they use while brushing. According to the study, brushing together can be a great way to boost communication between mother and daughter. Additionally, brushing your teeth with your child can help you to identify issues with your child’s brushing technique. This can be helpful when trying to identify potential issues with your child’s tooth-brushing technique, such as brushing too hard, or not brushing long enough. Allowing your child to brush your teeth can be an effective way to help improve his or her technique.
Conclusion
Getting kids to brush their teeth may seem like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and a few simple tips, you can make brushing teeth much more enjoyable for both you and your child. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to get your kids to brush their teeth with ease.