As parents, we’d like to give our children the gift of good oral health. Unfortunately, these good intentions are met with resistance when our kids aren’t on board. Here’s how to convince them to take pride in their smile by finding a happy medium.
Set an Example
Especially with little kids, nothing’s better than imitating mommy or daddy. Show your children how to brush their teeth by starting with a demonstration of your own. What you see as routine is a new activity to most youngsters. Take a little extra time to explain each step and engage them in the process.
Start Them Early
One of the best ways of creating a habit is by starting young. Teaching children how to brush or floss is just as much about encouragement and reminders as it is about technicalities. Do yourself a favour and start the process when they’re young and impressionable.
Find the Fun
If there’s one thing we know about kids, it’s that they find the fun in everything. Getting kids on board with a new chore or activity is mostly a matter of appealing to their sensibilities. For example, try setting a timer to add an element of surprise or have them practise with their non-dominant hand. The key to this technique is grabbing their attention using creativity.
Reward Good Habits
Another way to establish good dental habits is by incorporating rewards. Try giving younger kids a sticker for every time they brush or older kids a (slightly) later bedtime. If little rewards won’t cut it, try introducing a point system to earn something special over time. For example, think sleepovers, a special meal or another reward within reason.
Be Child-Friendly
As an adult, it’s easy to forget what the world is like for pint-size people. It goes without saying that kids are small and often require child-friendly toothbrushes from the beginning. As a matter of fact, take it one step further and have kids pick their favourite toothbrush and toothpaste for extra personalisation. They’ll be brushing without complaint before you know it.
Get them use to the 6 Month Dental Check-up
Getting your children use to the dentist from a young age is important for them to develop a good relationship with going to the dentist. Taking them from a young age ( anywhere from one year onwards is recommended) will get them use to the surroundings of a dentist, which will make them more comfortable in the future. At CAID we do everything we can to deliver great dental care for children with compassion so that they know they have nothing to fear.
If you would like to contact us you can call us at (03) 8845 5400 or make an appointment here.
