Getting a Child To Brush and Floss
At Dental Associates of Delaware, we specialize in providing high quality dental care to every member of the family. So for this blog, we wanted to talk about something that is a difficult issue for many parents – how to get children to brush and floss their teeth regularly for the optimal healthy Delaware smile.
Start Early: Habits are powerful things, and the earlier on in your child’s life that you can establish brushing and flossing as a daily habit, the more likely they’ll be to accept it as one. Make sure to establish a clear routine – make it a morning and nightly ritual – and stick to that routine, providing clear reasons for why it’s so important. Children learn from regularity, so the earlier the better!
Show & Tell: Don’t make them do it by themselves! By brushing your teeth along with them, you can help them accept brushing as normal. You can even make it fun by showing them all the ‘tricks of the trade,’ teaching them all the ways you brush to keep your teeth sparkly clean. This can turn dental hygiene into a fun way to bond with your child.
Give Them A Choice: Allowing them to choose their toothbrush and toothpaste can make the routine of brushing and flossing more appealing – for example, maybe there’s a super awesome toothbrush with Buzz Lightyear that will inspire them to take their dental health “to infinity and beyond!” This small incidence of choice helps to make brushing feel less like an imposed chore and more like a fun activity.
Contact Your Delaware Family Dentists
If you have any other questions about your or your child’s dental health or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us at our offices in Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Wilmington, Millsboro, or Ocean View, DE. Remember to check this blog periodically for more helpful tips on family dental health, and keep those teeth – even the baby ones – clean!