Getting Your Child To Take Care Of Their Teeth
It’s the struggle of every parent, guardian and teacher, making sure kids are learning to take care of their teeth at a young age. There are many tactics in this fight. The difficult part being which one is going to work for your kid. Making oral hygiene a habit at an early age can save your young one a ton of agony later in life, use these tactics to find a scenario that works for you and yours.
Focus On Family Dental Health
Make it a thing you do together. We some times forget how susceptible young minds are to what they watch and hear. If they see you practicing good oral care then they will also do that, even subconsciously. When beginning to teach them how to care for their own teeth, make it a family time thing that you all do together. If can be a fun bonding moment as well. We all go floss, brush our teeth and rinse with mouthwash before we put our pajamas on, together, every-time.
Shock Value Dental Health
This works for some kids, if they are fighting you on every step. We have heard horror stories of kids needing double digit cavities filled because of their lack of oral hygiene at home. That’s definitely an attention getter that many school programs use. Showing the results and pain a person goes through when they have not spent their younger years taking care of their teeth. Trust us they will thank you later.
Make It A Game
Kids respond well to games and rewards. Keep a chart or mark it down somehow, every time they are able to get all their dental hygiene taken care of. Double the points if they do it on their own without even being asked. You should participate too so they have a number to look up to, then they may start calling you out for your habits. Game are fun.
Have A Dental Reward System
Children love rewards, well everyone does we suppose. This one may also require a chart or some kind of tracking but set up a reward system if they are able to keep up with their brushing and flossing for certain amount of days in a row. Whatever works for the as a reward, a trip, a playdate, screen-time, whatever you think is an appropriate reward for them as long as they understand they should value their teeth as well as their ability to accomplish something for themselves.