As a parent, your child’s dental health should be a top priority. However, it can be challenging to teach children proper dental hygiene, especially small children.

Poor oral health causes kids to miss 51 million hours of class time each year and can have a negative impact on their future success. Though it’s largely preventable, tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease among children aged 6-19, and this is why it is so important to get oral hygiene routines established from the moment their first tooth appears.

In this month’s blog the team at College Dental Surgeries have put together some ideas for making brushing fun.

Find Fun Dental Health Education Resources.

Try reading age-appropriate books and watching videos about dental hygiene with your child. There is nothing better than their favourite cartoon character brushing their teeth for your child to want to get involved.

Make Brushing and Flossing a Family Affair.

Setting an example for your kids is one of your most powerful tools to make brushing teeth fun. To model good dental hygiene, brush, and floss at least twice daily with your children, including once before bedtime. For younger children, you might even have them practice brushing your teeth!

Create a Two-minute “Contest” For Brushing.

Adults and children alike should brush teeth for two minutes twice daily, including before bedtime. To make brushing teeth fun, make a game of it and set the timer for two minutes; the “winner” must brush for the entire two minutes without stopping. This type of game will create a sense of friendly competition and motivate your kids to brush properly – a win-win!

Get Your Child a Special Toothbrush

As adults, we often overlook the benefits of integrating playful elements into daily routines. Reintroduce the fun of childhood by allowing your child to select a personalized toothbrush. By transforming the toothbrushing process into an enjoyable activity with engaging tools, you can create a positive and effective way to encourage regular dental hygiene.

Reward Consistent Tooth Brushing.

To encourage twice-daily brushing and flossing, reward good behaviour. Start with simple rewards like gold stars, given when they brush for two minutes twice a day and floss once daily. Once this routine is established, use a weekly calendar to track their consistency, offering a bigger reward for a week of perfect brushing.

Recruit the Tooth Fairy.

Not everyone realizes that the tooth fairy pays more for teeth that are clean and cavity free. Make sure your child knows this fact; it will go a long way in motivating your child to engage in daily brushing and flossing!

Make Going to the Dentist a Special Occasion.

Make it clear to your kids that going to the dentist is the crowning achievement of your child’s hard work for learning proper dental habits and avoid framing it as a negative outcome for neglecting their brushing and flossing habits. Parents can also pass a fear of the dentist to their children. Let us know when you make your appointment if you or your child is especially anxious so we can let our team know in advance. All the team at College Dental Surgeries are highly skilled at treating nervous patients and will be able to ensure that your children build positive associations with visiting the dentist.

Creating a fun and engaging routine at home will ensure your child develops a lifelong habit of caring for their teeth. If you need more information or would like to discuss how you can best care for your children’s dental health call College Dental Surgerieson 01622 752340 and book a consultation.