How to make brushing fun for your kids

No matter what your age, brushing can be boring. Unfortunately its one of those chores we have to do but don’t necessarily want to do. In fact, when it comes to a child, brushing their teeth can be quite mundane making it easy for them to forget or (gasp!) avoid…

At Summit Dental, our Boise dentist recommends taking the chore out of brushing your teeth by making it more engaging with the following tips & tricks to spice things up a bit. In the end there’s nothing worse than hearing the bad news that comes along with your child not brushing his or her teeth at their next Boise dental checkup.

Update Their Gear

We all know how it feels when we buy a new pair of shoes. As soon as we get out of the store we can’t wait to wear them and show them off. The same goes with toothbrushes. While our Boise dentist doesn’t suggest you go overboard on expensive toothbrushes, you can however take you child to pick out their new toothbrush. There are a variety of kinds with age appropriate themes and characters to choose from. The same goes with toothpaste and floss as well. Just by letting them pick out their own gear will boost some excitement when it comes time to brush!

Switch things up

Change their routine! If you can make it fun, chances are your kids are more apt to brush. Simply by changing the routine, you take the routine aspect out of it. Our Boise dentist suggests the following things you can try:

• Encourage them to brush with the hand opposite of the one they usually brush with.
• Have them floss before they brush.
• Introduce a timer.
• Reward them with prizes (stickers, etc.)

Set a challenge

Find out what they really want – it can be big or small! Our Boise dentist suggests making a challenge for your kids to brush for X amount of days in order to reach that reward. For a short challenge, suggest an ice cream date if they brush and floss their teeth every day leading up to it. For a bigger challenge reward them with a new toy they’ve been asking for if they brush and floss their teeth daily every day for a month. Not only does a challenge make the process less mundane, it teaches them about working towards, and reaching a goal.

Visit your Boise dentist for regular checkups and a Boise teeth cleaning

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Regular Boise dental checkups and a Boise teeth cleaning are essential to maintaining proper oral hygiene, and overall health. Keep in mind that your children practice what they learn. If you don’t brush and floss regularly or visit your Boise dentist, it is unlikely your children will either.

Good luck, and have fun!