Cleanings and prevention
While a lot of kids think brushing and flossing are no fun, there are exciting ways to teach them how to care for their teeth and gums.
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While a lot of kids think brushing and flossing are no fun, there are exciting ways to teach them how to care for their teeth and gums. Try being interactive with different activities, games, and stories with their favorite characters!
There’s no doubt that keeping children engaged is essential to educating them about oral hygiene. Interactive lessons and games can make learning about brushing and flossing enjoyable and memorable for youngsters.
Kids love being involved and learning by doing. You can ask your child’s dentist to show them how to brush and floss with big toothbrushes and teeth models in their office. There are pretend play kits where children can pretend to be the dentist and learn all about how dentists help people. There are even Play-Doh sets that show kids how to make fake teeth and place pretend braces! Learning through play is always a win with kids of any age!
There are so many apps out there, and finding the right ones can make learning about oral health fun! A lot of them have games that can highlight the importance of brushing and flossing, and let them “practice” going to the dentist. Whatever character your child loves, there’s a good chance that there’s a video or app with that character. If they love Peppa Pig, find a book and show them what Peppa and her brother George do at the dentist. If they are fans of PBS, there are several Daniel Tiger books and episodes about his visit to the dentist.
You can make caring for teeth exciting by creating Dental Hero Adventures! Does your child have a favorite superhero? Do they pretend to have super powers and save the world? Why not create a game where your child is the superhero, and their goal is to beat the evil plaque monsters. Their tooth brush and floss are the magical tools to battle these plaque monsters and save smiles! Interactive storytelling will certainly use their imagination and make learning about dental care fun.
For other ideas, websites from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and companies like Made By Dentists have cute, colorful characters with clever names and downloadable coloring pages and stickers that kids love!
Role-playing your child’s first visit to the dentist can help them lower their anxiety and feel less nervous about their upcoming dental visit. Let your child play make believe in a world where they are the dentist and their favorite stuffed animal or doll is their patient. Show them how to look at their doll’s mouth and pretend to brush and floss their teeth. Such a small act of imaginary play can really boost their confidence!
What kid doesn’t love slime, so why not make toothpaste slime! All you need is toothpaste, shampoo, salt, food coloring if you want to make the slime different colors, and any add-ins like small beads or glitter. In a mixing bowl, add three tablespoons of shampoo, one table spoon of toothpaste, a drop or two of food coloring and mix together well with a spatula. Once everything is combined, add a pinch of salt and continue mixing. You can add in more shampoo or toothpaste to get the desired consistency, and when you have achieved that, add your glitter and beads for more excitement!
With DIY oral charts and timers, you can help children track their brushing and flossing and encourage them to stick to a routine. Let them choose their favorite stickers, and they can use them to mark off each day they have brushed and flossed their teeth. Small hourglasses with two minute sand timers can be purchased online and is a great visual aid that helps children know how long they should brush their teeth.
The DIY chart above can also be used as positive reinforcement. Give them a goal to reach, and offer a reward once they have reached their goal. For example, once they receive 10 stickers (meaning they brushed and flossed their teeth every day for 10 consecutive days), reward them with something like going to the movies or choosing a small toy at the store. Seeing daily progress can be great motivation!
Celebrating milestones can increase their confidence and motivate them to keep up the good work! Did they lose their first tooth? Let’s have a dance party! No cavities at their last dental visit? Treat them with their favorite stickers and a new book!
All parents know the struggle of getting their kids to brush their teeth every day, much less morning and night. Brush and floss with them each morning and night to set an example. This way, you can supervise your children and help them brush and floss those hard to reach areas. A good rule of thumb for when your child can brush their teeth independently is when they can tie their shoes well on their own.
Songs, videos, and are awesome, effective ways to make brushing for two minutes enjoyable. And kids actually want to keep brushing because who doesn’t love two minutes of watching Bluey or singing along to their favorite Disney songs?
Feel free to reach out to our pediatric dentist, Dr. Tam Nguyen, any time!
Mason Park Dental for Kids
(281) 578 to 7100
A: Teaching kids about oral hygiene is important because it helps them develop good habits at a young age. Kids who develop good habits at a young age are more likely to continue them into adulthood.
A: Fun ways to teach kids about oral hygiene include using apps, educational videos, colorful charts, and hands-on activities, and pretend games that demonstrate the importance of brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly.
A: Parents can do this by being positive role models and setting examples for their own kids. Brush and floss with them daily, make dental visits a family affair, and show them how to choose healthy food options. Praise and rewards are also great ways to reinforce good oral hygiene habits because who doesn’t love compliments and their favorite things!
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