No More Boring Brushing! Making Oral Hygiene Fun For Little Ones
If your child’s twice-daily toothbrushing routine has become a ‘battle of the brushes’, check out our simple ideas for making good oral hygiene a fun habit they’ll enjoy - and actually want to stick with!
While most parents are fully aware of the importance of getting their kids to brush their teeth and practice good oral hygiene, it can sometimes be a struggle to get children interested and eager to take care of their teeth.
Your paediatric dentist is always happy to share ideas and tips for ensuring better oral care at home, but you can also try these simple ideas for making dental hygiene a bit more fun for everyone.
1: Let them choose their own toothbrush
A quick browse of the supermarket or pharmacy shelves reveals all manner of toothbrush options. And for kids, these options are even more bountiful, with an array of colours, styles, and themes.
And let’s face it - your child is much more likely to want to brush their teeth if their brush is adorned with their favourite superhero or cartoon character! By getting children involved in picking out their own toothbrushes every three months, they’ll look forward to using their fun brush each time they brush their teeth.
2: Choose a toothpaste flavour they like
Toothpaste comes in a huge variety of different flavours - and if you end up picking out one that your child dislikes, it’s not going to bode well for keeping them engaged at toothbrushing time.
Get your child to choose a toothpaste they like, guided by the colours and flavours they see on offer. However, be sure to choose a toothpaste that has the Australian Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval on the box, which means it’s been endorsed by dental professionals.
3: Pick a toothbrushing tune
We know that we need to brush our teeth for two minutes - so why not make keeping time more fun? Getting children used to brushing for this amount of time can help them form the habit of ensuring their brushing session lasts as long as it should.
One fun way to do this is to choose a song that runs for around two minutes and play it while your child brushes their teeth. Make sure it’s a catchy song they like, so they can associate the positive music with the action of brushing their teeth for two minutes.
4: Make toothbrushing a game
One thing we know is that kids love to win! And when it comes to oral hygiene, introducing a little healthy and fun competition can work wonders in getting positive health habits to stick in the long term.
If you have more than one young child, encourage them to brush their teeth together, with the winner being the one that keeps brushing without stopping. Alternatively, you can use a reward chart, such as giving a star for every time they brush their teeth, with a prize when they reach ten stars.
Looking for a children’s dentist to help with your young one’s dental hygiene? Find your nearest National Dental Care practice online now and get in touch.