As most parents know, it can be very difficult to get young children to do what they’re told. If they’ve decided they don’t want to do something, many children can be impressively stubborn about it. Regular teeth brushing is essential to the oral hygiene and development of your kids, but it might not be easy to get them to understand the consequences of not brushing, such as needing a tooth filling.

So, how can you get your kids brushing their teeth twice a day if you’ve had problems with this routine previously? The trick is to make it a fun and enjoyable experience for them. This article has some useful ideas on how to make this a reality.

Fun flavors of toothpaste

Maybe some kids don’t like to brush because they find the mint flavor of toothpaste to be unpleasant. You can find toothpaste designed for kids with lots of fun and fruity flavors. If your kids like the taste brushing leaves in their mouth, then they’ll be more excited to do it each day.

Buy a novel toothbrush

Your child’s toothbrush can add to the fun of brushing as well as the toothpaste. Kids’ toothbrushes are designed in lots of different colors, shapes, and patterns. Many feature characters from kids’ movies and TV shows, while some are even shaped like those characters. Go shopping with your child and let them choose which toothbrush they want. If they choose one they love, then they’ll hopefully be happy to use it.

Brush to music

Some children might get bored while brushing their teeth, so make it more fun by playing a song they enjoy or the theme tune to their favorite show. This is also a good way to encourage them to brush for the full two minutes. They know that when the music stops, they can stop brushing.

Give them a choice

One of the most frustrating problems children face is not having control over things. It’s one of the reasons why toddlers throw so many tantrums, especially since they can’t express what they want in words. Giving your child options gives them a sense of control improving their satisfaction. Whether or not they brush their teeth isn’t an option, but you could let them decide on the details.

Take the above three tips as inspiration. You could let them decide what song they want to brush to, or you could buy two different toothbrushes or two flavors of toothpaste and ask them each time which one they want to use.

Reward your child

Make sure your child knows that brushing their teeth is a positive behavior by rewarding them for it. You could give them a sticker to place on a chart each time they brush. If they have enough stickers at the end of the week or month, they get a reward.

Make sure you’re also taking your child to see the family dentist on a regular basis to ensure their mouth is in good health. Contact Advance Family Dental for pain-free dentistry appointments if you live around Winston Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, and Advance, NC.