Every time you mention, “Hey kids, go brush your teeth and get ready for bed!” is it followed by extended amounts of weeping and temper tantrum throwing? Or maybe your kids go to bed just fine, but you have a child who avoids brushing their teeth in the mornings, and before you know it, they’re on their way to school with stinky morning breath. If you find yourself fearing the dreaded morning or bedtime routine – Dr. Lee has four great tips to make dental hygiene enjoyable for your child. By making it fun for them, it places less stress on you.

At Desert Family Dental, we offer dentistry services for children and adults, making it a great place to take the entire family. While visiting the dentist every six months is vital for maintaining a healthy smile, it’s just as important to implement a good dental hygiene program. The sooner one can be implemented for your child, the less likely they are to suffer from cavities later on in life. To schedule your child’s first office visit, please contact our Mesa, AZ office today online or by calling 480-838-4185.

Let Your Child Pick Out Their Toothbrush

At your local grocery store, the oral hygiene aisle is filled with toothbrushes in almost every color. As an added benefit, many toothbrush manufacturers have jumped on the PR bandwagon and offer toothbrushes featuring Disney, Pixar, and superhero characters. If your kid loves Trolls, Shopkins, Minions, Elsa, or Batman – there is more than likely a toothbrush available. Take your child to the store with you and let them pick out the toothbrush of their choice. To make it even more enjoyable, have them select fun-flavored toothpaste. This not only makes it an entertaining adventure for your child, but teaches them responsibility in the process.

Make a Game Out of It

There are a variety of ways to turn brushing your teeth into a game. Some ideas include:

• See who can make the most bubbles
• Come up with a silly song to sing while they brush their teeth
• If you’re child is into superheroes, have them put on their “cavity monster cape” while they fight off the “bad guys.”
• Because teeth only need to be brushed for two minutes, put a timer in the bathroom and set it for two minutes and tell them to “beat the clock.”

Set Up a Reward System

Maybe your child responds more to rewards than games. Hang a calendar in their bathroom. After each tooth brushing session, have them place a sticker on the calendar. At the end of the week, if each day has a sticker, choose a reward of your choosing. This can be anything as simple as a piece of candy or more TV-time.

Use Toys and Cartoons to Teach Dental Hygiene

There are many great resources out there on YouTube, Pinterest, or Netflix that can be used to teach your child the importance of dental hygiene in a fun, yet educational way. There’s even a game that involves SpongeBob SquarePants needing help fighting off cavities. Find something that works for your child. Before you know it, teeth brushing will become a normal part of their routine without you having to force them to do it.

Learn More About Pediatric Dentistry

If you are looking for a dentist who provides pediatric dentistry services in addition to general dentistry services for adults, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee at our Mesa, AZ office. You can contact us online or give us a call at 480-838-4185.