When you bring your children to see our St. Charles children’s dentist, we make it a goal to keep their visit upbeat and positive. Most dental concerns are preventable, but the key is to form great habits from an early age. When you do, your child gets a head start at having healthy teeth for life (and will be less likely to experience dental anxiety!)
Making things fun at our office and at home can encourage your child to be more active in their dental self-care. On that note, here are 4 easy and fun ways to encourage your child to brush their teeth.
1. Have a “Backwards” Race
Instead of seeing who can brush their teeth the fastest, see who can brush them the longest. Kids love to have one-on-one time with their parents, and this is a great opportunity. Brush together in front of the bathroom mirror and see who can make it two minutes or longer (hint: you can give up after the two minutes are up.)
2. Get Some Disclosing Tablets
Fair warning, this one can be a little messy. But it’s fun. First have your child brush their teeth as best as they think they can. Then have them chew up a disclosing tablet (you can buy them on Amazon) and then spit into the sink. When they smile, any leftover plaque on their teeth will be stained pink or purple. The color depends on how long the buildup has been on their teeth. Kids will love how “gross” it is. Then they can go back and re-brush everything they missed. They may even find it fun to tell their St. Charles pediatric dentist about this at their next cleaning.
3. Let Them Pick Out Their Toothbrush
A lot of kids just don’t want to brush their teeth. But when they play an active role in hand-selecting their toothbrush at the store — especially if it has a favorite character or color — they’ll be more apt to use it twice a day.
4. Play Their Favorite Song
Theoretically you want to brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes, twice a day. Most songs last about 2.5-3 minutes. You see where we’re going with this. Play their favorite tune on a speaker in the bathroom and have them brush for as long as the song is still playing.
Your Family’s Partner in Oral Health
At each checkup with our pediatric dentist and our team, we will evaluate your child’s hygiene habits and make suggestions to perfect their routine even further. We’re committed to helping your family achieve healthy smiles for decades to come.
Looking for a new orthodontist or children’s dentist in St. Charles, IL? Call DPD Smiles – Pediatrics & Orthodontics today to reserve an appointment.
