Teaching Your Child That Good Dental Health Can Be Fun

Teaching your children proper oral hygiene and good dental care habits is an important part of ensuring their natural teeth will be able to last them a lifetime. If you find that your child is resisting the idea of brushing their teeth or visiting their pediatric dentist, the problem may simply be that your child views dental care as a chore rather than a rewarding experience. Thankfully, it is never too late to change their perception and teach them that taking good care of their teeth can be fun. The tips outlined below can help you in accomplishing this task.

It's A Brushing Jam Session

If your child often resists brushing their teeth or frequently stops brushing before reaching the two minute mark, incorporating music into your brushing routine can help to turn this previously boring routine into a fun activity your child actually looks forward to. The best part is, this idea will not require you to invest in any special equipment and does not involve bribery.

All you need to do is select one of your child's favorite songs and play the song during the time your child brushes their teeth. Challenge them to continue brushing and/or flossing until the song ends. Before you know it, your child will be looking forward to their opportunity to rock out when they wake up in the morning and right before going to bed at night.

Taking A Trip To The Land Of Make Believe

There are very few children who do not enjoy a good game of make believe, especially if their parents are willing to participate. If your child has been struggling with the idea of visiting the dentist, you can tap into their natural desire to role play in order to help ease their fears and encourage them to look forward to their next dental visit.

In order to put this idea to work for you, begin by engaging your child in a role playing exercise where you are the dentist and they are your patient. Using age appropriate language, be sure to share information with them about each action you take and how this action can help to keep their teeth and gums healthy. After you have finished their dental exam, don't forget to let them take on the role of the dentist and perform an exam on you. This will allow them to feel empowered by their new knowledge and show you just how much they really learned.

By the time you complete this exercise, a visit to the dentist will no longer seem like such a scary experience as your child now know precisely what they should expect. To learn more, visit Myriam Cerezo DMD.