Tips For Parents With Kids Who Dread Brushing Teeth

Despite their refusal, it’s imperative to get them to brush their teeth for a number of reasons. If you have kids who simply dread brushing teeth and you want to resolve that right away, here are some tips that may help.

• Inform them about the suffering that comes with having tooth decay.

No kid wants to feel pain and the prospect of experiencing it may prompt them to concede to the ruling that brushing is a must after every meal.

• Set up a reward system for good oral habits.

Don’t tell them about the rewards they’ll receive for taking good care of their teeth – the system works better when it’s a surprise. Also, to make the reward more meaningful, consider the little ones’ interests. You want to make sure that the “presents” are things and experiences that they will truly appreciate.

• Make the experience fun.

Any activity that children fuss over requires a fun element. For young children, playing music is enough to get them through the hateful tooth brushing session. Or, turn it into a game. Say, they brush their teeth without being asked; create a scoreboard to track their commitment and have a prize ready for whoever earns the highest score for a certain time period.

• Take them shopping with you.

Have your kids pick the dental products they like. It always helps develop good habits when children use things that they like for an activity they struggle with. This allows them to associate something positive with the activity and it somehow neutralizes their negative feelings.

• Ask your children why they don’t like to brush.

Perhaps it hurts because they have gum or teeth sensitivity. Get to the bottom of the situation and identify strategies that can address the problem. If kids have teeth sensitivity, perhaps a new and softer toothbrush could help. Or maybe they find the toothpaste too minty; switching to a mild-flavored toothpaste may help.

• Brush with them.

If you have really young kids, showing your own dedication to oral health may inspire them to do the same. Children look up to their parents and want to do what they do. Setting a good example can beat whatever negativity they have toward brushing. Schedule your totally rad appointment with us today!