If you are the parent of a child age one to five years old, you are probably used to helping your kiddo brush their teeth. Once a child reaches six years old, it’s time for them to start brushing on their own!
Most kids despise bedtime. It includes pajamas, bath time, and brushing your teeth… BOOOO! We know, as a parent, it’s not fun for you either, so here are a couple of ways to turn your bedtime routine into a good time.
Fun ideas for your brushing routine:
- Crank up that music! Allow your child to pick a song to listen to while they clean their teeth. Not only is music a great way to stimulate young minds but brushing for the duration of a song perpetuates the idea that brushing your teeth is an activity that you should invest a significant amount of time in. And we all know it will probably result in some groovy moves and a family dance party!
- Making brushing time a shared activity. Everyone flossing and cleaning their teeth at the same time will remind your child that dental hygiene is not a punishment. Mom and Dad do it too! So Mom, Dad, and even older siblings grab a toothbrush and show them how it’s done.
- Talk to your child about their dental milestones. This can include new teeth that should be coming in soon, and what to expect as they get old enough to begin to lose their baby teeth.
Hopefully, these ideas will help make brushing more enjoyable for your child…and for you, the parents, too. Remind your kid how important dental hygiene is and how brushing those pearly whites can be fun! We know it can be exhausting to have to remind and reinforce constantly but hang in there. Building healthy oral hygiene habits now creates a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles that stay with your child their whole life long.
