Kids & Brushing Teeth

Teach your children the importance of oral health early and model good oral hygiene yourself.

Even though they may not understand why they need to do some things, toddlers and younger children tend to internalize their parents’ values. Oral health is no exception. If a child sees their parents consistently brushing and flossing, they will recognize that it is necessary and routine. It would be helpful to create a specific oral hygiene time for your children starting at a young age. When they become old enough to take care of their brushing, a specific time will already be familiar to them. You should also make sure to explain to your children why oral hygiene is so important. Tell them how a healthy smile will lead to a healthy life. You can even throw something in about making the Tooth Fairy happy!

Reward good brushing behavior to reinforce it for your children.

While making brushing fun is a great way to drive positive behavior, giving a reward can be even more effective. Rewards don’t have to be complicated. You could do something as simple as adding shiny stickers to a chart every time your child brushes their teeth of their own accord. You could even let your children choose dinner one night of the week if they have been good about brushing their teeth the week prior. Rewards, no matter how small, will reinforce good behavior and habits in your children.

Every child should learn the importance of brushing their teeth and take pride in maintaining their oral hygiene. Making oral care fun, educating your children about why brushing is essential, modeling good behavior, and rewarding your children when they are doing well are all ways to increase good brushing behavior and overall oral health. It’s time to get brushing!