3 Ways to Make Brushing More Fun for Kids
Brushing your teeth is one of those things that is good for you, but not necessarily fun to do. It’s easy to see this task as more of a chore than anything. That can make it more challenging to get your children to brush their teeth and do a good job. Finding ways to make tooth brushing more fun for kids can help with that. So what are some things you can do?
Use Plaque-Disclosing Products
It’s hard to know how thoroughly you’re cleaning your teeth when you can’t see what you’re trying to remove. That can make thoroughly brushing their teeth extra challenging for kids. Show your kids how well they’re brushing their teeth with plaque-disclosing products. These products coat the teeth with color, giving kids a visual representation of the plaque they’re trying to remove. Not only will plaque-disclosing products provide a visual target goal, but they’ll also bring a little extra fun into tooth-brushing time. After all, what kid wouldn’t think turning their teeth a different color is fun?
Brush to the Music
Everything is better when you dance. Turn on some tunes and groove to the beat while you brush your teeth. Make it more enjoyable for your kids by letting them pick their favorite songs from a playlist you’ve put together. When the music stops, your kids can be done brushing. Choose songs that are about 2 minutes long, since that’s how long they’re supposed to brush for. In addition to being more fun, that will give them an auditory cue that they’ve brushed long enough.
Do It Together
Kids love interacting with their parents (at least until they hit the preteen and teen stages, at which point they probably won’t admit to it). They watch everything you do and want to be like you. Use that to your (and their) advantage by brushing your teeth together. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate good brushing habits and spend a little quality time together.
The more positive you can make the tooth-brushing experience for your kids, the easier it will be to get them to do it. That may require a mindset shift on everyone’s part. How you approach tooth brushing will color how your kids think of it. Even something as simple as switching from saying, “You have to brush your teeth,” to “It’s time to brush your teeth” or “You get to brush your teeth now,” can start to make a difference. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find it more fun to brush your teeth too!
Do you have questions about your child’s dental care? Maccaro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry has answers! Click here to view our FAQ page today!
