Even adults have trouble feeling motivated to practice good oral hygiene on its own merits. Why expect your child to do the same? Instead, Old Greenwich Dental Center offers several engaging ways to transform dental care from a daily chore into an engaging activity that will be easy to maintain during the new school year. Follow up with appointments for family dental care near Old Greenwich at our office.
#1: Choose Kid-Friendly Products
Turn a mundane task into something exciting with fun oral health tools. Allow your child to pick out their own dental products. This sense of ownership can make them more enthusiastic about their dental hygiene routine.
- Toothbrushes: Find ones with flashing lights, timers, or their favorite cartoon or comic book characters.
- Toothpaste: If your kid doesn’t like mint, explore other flavors to incentivize them to brush.
- Floss: Look for colorful floss, or if traditional floss is too difficult for your little one, try floss picks in fun shapes.
#2: Make Brushing a Game
Our family dental team near Old Greenwich recommends transforming brushing time into playtime to increase your child’s interest in dental hygiene.
- Apps: Some play two-minute music clips or videos to keep your child engaged while brushing.
- Games: Set challenges, like who can brush all their teeth thoroughly before the timer runs out.
- Role-Playing: Pretend to be a dentist, with your child as the patient. Demonstrate proper brushing techniques and explain why they’re important.
#3: Use Positive Reinforcement
Praise your child for proper technique and for remembering to brush and floss without reminders. You can even implement a reward system to instill a sense of accomplishment, much like teachers use rewards for reaching academic goals.
- Encouragement: “Great job!” “Your teeth look so clean!” or “You’re brushing like a big kid!”
- Gestures: Be excited when your child does a good job, flashing big smiles and giving high-fives all around.
- Incentives: Offer rewards that are attainable and age-appropriate—stickers, extra playtime, or a favorite bedtime story.
#4: Lead by Example
Children often imitate their parent’s behavior, so be a role model for family dental care in Old Greenwich. Show them that you value hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth together, as well as scheduling dental visits as a family.
Kids also follow fictional examples. Read educational books together to reinforce your lessons.
- The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
- Brush Your Teeth, Please by Leslie McGuire
- Clarabella’s Teeth by An Vrombaut
#5: Show Them the Science
Conduct simple science experiments to demonstrate the effects of poor oral hygiene. For example, the American Dental Association (ADA) suggests this egg experiment:
- Place one fresh egg in a cup of soda and another in a cup of fluoride mouthwash. Let them sit overnight.
- The next day, remove the eggs and place them in new containers, this time containing vinegar.
- The vinegar will react to the soda egg but not the fluoride egg.
- Explain that this is similar to how soda can harm teeth and fluoride can strengthen them.
#6: Explore Family Dental Near Old Greenwich
Regular dental checkups at a family dental practice near Old Greenwich are crucial for maintaining good oral health. Make appointments a positive experience by preparing your child beforehand. Let them know what to expect and praise them for their bravery after the visit.
For more personalized tips and to schedule biannual visits for family dental care near Old Greenwich, reach out for appointments today. Old Greenwich Dental Center can turn dental care into a delight.
