3 Ways to Trick Your Kids Into Practicing Oral Hygiene

It is very important to cultivate good oral hygiene habits in kids from a younger age. This helps them get used to these habits and maintain them throughout their lifetime.

However, kids can be an expert at trying to avoid everything that is good for them – from broccoli to brushing teeth. If your kid also gets cranky about practicing oral hygiene, here are few ways you can trick them into doing so.

• Turn The Toothbrush into a Toy by Going Electric: This is the one trick that works with almost every kid. By getting your kid an electric toothbrush, you basically turn it into a toy that they enjoy playing with. It makes brushing fun, which causes them to look forward to it. Additionally, you can buy toothpaste with their favorite cartoons on it. But make sure that you don’t compromise on the quality of the toothpaste for this purpose, and only buy one with fluoride.
• Play A Video While Brushing: It is important to spend at least 2 minutes properly cleaning the teeth and tongue. This can be a long time for most kids, as they are inherently restless. To keep them entertained while brushing, play 2-minute videos. Allow your kid to pick a video that they like. It can be a music video, a cartoon, or anything else – as long as it is at least 2 minutes long.
• Use a Reward System: Kids love rewards. Whether it be a small gift or a star sticker, they can get really excited about it. Use this to your benefit. A simple way to do this is by making up a system where you put a sticker on the calendar (or any sheet) every time they brush their teeth. Promise them a gift after they reach a certain number of stickers, and then repeat the process.

Also, make sure to take them to the dentist regularly. If you live in Parker, CO, consider visiting Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry.