Getting your kids ready in the morning can be a challenge, especially since most children aren’t likely to want to brush their teeth, get dressed, or go to school. (Can you blame them?) The same is likely true for nighttime routines – to a tired child, cleaning their teeth certainly doesn’t sound very fun.
But these daily routines are important, especially when it comes to dental health. Brushing every morning and night, flossing, and generally caring for their teeth is imperative as they grow. But if you find that you’re having a hard time getting your kids to stick to their dental routines, we have a few tips that just might make it a little less of a struggle.
Make it Fun: For most kids, brushing their teeth can be pretty boring. Luckily, there are ways to make it fun that may also make them want to stick to it. Let them pick out a fun new toothbrush, and a flavour of toothpaste that they like. Then, while brushing, make it a game to see if they can brush on their own for a full two minutes.
Start Young: Starting good dental health habits at a young age is important. Most kids are able to brush their own teeth by age 6, sometimes even earlier – and as soon as they can, their dental routine should become like a second nature to them.
Lead by Example: One of the best ways to get your kids to keep up their daily dental routines is to stick to one yourself – if they see you every morning and night, brushing and flossing, they’ll see that everyone does it and it’s a regular part of the day. Not only that, some children love to copy what their parents do – what better activity to imitate than dental health?
And of course, always make sure to keep up with your kids’ dental check-ups and cleanings. If they’re due for an appointment, give us a call at Southeast Dental in Markham – 905-471-2002.