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Negotiation is an important part of parenting. As an adult, you learn to pick your battles with your child. But when it comes to oral hygiene, brushing regularly is nonnegotiable – if you want to avoid making unnecessary visits to your East Nashville dentist, that is.

Teaching your kids good oral hygiene helps them maintain overall health and sets a good example about the importance of taking care of their bodies. Here are some ways to get your child into the habit of brushing their teeth twice daily.

1. Musicalize Your Brushing

There’s a reason why many kids’ shows and games have music: children love songs! Playing a song they like can make daily brushing a fun and exciting experience, especially for children with dental anxiety.

Moreover, it can be a way to ensure they brush for at least two minutes without needing to set a timer.

2. Offer Rewards

Offering rewards is a common strategy for educating children because it’s infallible. Children’s motivations are simpler, and catering to them can help you teach them the importance of healthy dental habits.

Is there something your kid especially likes? Maybe a TV show, plushie, or museum trip? Think about their favorite activities and use that to reward them for their positive attitude.

3. Let Them Experience

Toothpaste with cool stripes or colors and a brush with your child’s favorite character on it can be essential instruments for oral family health. To get your kids to brush properly, cater to their preferences instead of forcing them to use tools they don’t like. That goes both for boring toothbrushes and ugly-tasting mint toothpaste (ugh!).

As long as a product has the ADA Seal of Acceptance, it will protect them from cavities, no matter the flavor.

4. Brush With Them

There’s no better way of teaching than leading by example. After each meal, take the time to brush side-by-side with your kid.

Children learn from you, so this is the perfect way to model a healthy routine you always follow, no matter how busy life gets.

5. Convey the Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

We’ve all fallen into the common excuse of stating orders with a “Because I say so!” Nobody’s perfect: when life is hectic (and kids ask too many questions), trying to end a conversation with an authoritarian approach is easier than talking it out.

However, a big part of teaching your kids about good oral hygiene is putting them in charge of it. You won’t be around when they’re 30 to remind them to floss, after all.

Make sure to explain the importance of oral hygiene to your kids. Tell them what cavities are and how they form. This will put a name to the evil substance that gives them a reason to brush daily—and why they can’t eat all the sweets they want.

Find an East Nashville Dentist for Your Family!

Few things in life are as important as oral hygiene. Not brushing and flossing regularly can lead to cavities, cause misalignments, and become the root of problems that will follow them well into adulthood.

If you still need help instructing your children on this, maybe a professional from Greenwood Local Dentistry & Orthodontics can help. Request an appointment!