If you are teaching a child to brush their teeth, some days you’ll need all the help you can get! Here are some ideas to help your child brush their teeth every day.
Family Time: Good oral hygiene habits include brushing teeth for two minutes, twice a day, and flossing for two to three minutes once daily. If you consistently do this with your child, you will have an extra three hours a month together. Make that time as fun as possible! Perhaps try telling a two minute story as your child brushes, using people the child knows as story characters. Come up with new ways to spend the time, or develop a steady family tradition that will last a lifetime.
Character Support: You can find many stories about brushing and flossing in children’s television shows and books. Try reading and watching those stories together, then refer to the stories when it’s time to brush! As an extra support to your efforts, many child’s toothbrushes come in bright colors, bearing the likenesses of beloved children’s characters. Try letting your child choose one to come along on their brushing adventure.
Lead by Example: Your child watches you and your habits, including your oral hygiene habits. If you brush and floss every day, they will be more likely to also brush and floss every day. These easy examples of caring for yourself can help your child develop strong daily routines that will save them a lot of trouble down the road. The more positive and consistent you are, the more likely it is that your child will take care of a healthy smile to last a lifetime!
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist, call Daghlian Pediatric Dentistry & Sokolowski Orthodontics in Newport Beach, California, at 949-706-7006. Dr. Daghlian and our team look forward to helping your child’s smile shine!