“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” What if you didn’t have any teeth to bite into that apple? Oral health is very important. A major part of having good oral health is taking care of your teeth by maintaining good brushing and flossing habits. Parents who help their kids develop good brushing habits at an early age will affect how well they take care of their teeth as they get older. Although getting kids to see the point of brushing their teeth at a young age is often very difficult, it’s a must. Patriot Family Dental in Clarksville, Tennessee would like to share with you five creative ways to help get your kids to brush their teeth.

The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests that parents should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they begin to come in, which is typically at 6 months. By the age of 2 it’s time to start motivating your child to start taking charge of their own dental care by helping them learn to brush their teeth.

1.) Show & tell or copycat method                                
One good way to get your kiddos excited about brushing their teeth is by doing it with them. Getting down on their level so that they are able to see how you brush your teeth will help them learn.
2.) Let them take charge of their dental care
Let your children pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste can get them excited to learn how to use both to brush their teeth. There are a variety of colorful toothbrushes, some even with characters on them that your child can choose. Be patient in letting them select their toothbrush. It’s hard not to get excited about an Elisa or Spiderman toothbrush. Toothpaste can also be a fun choice since it comes in a variety of flavors.
3.) Make it a game
The objective is getting your kids to brush their teeth, but it should be fun, so let’s make it into a game. The minimum amount of time your child should brush is 2 minutes. Set a timer and brush along with them and see which one of you can make the most bubbles while brushing. You can also use plaque disclosing tablets or mouthwash to help them fight the cavity monsters.
4.) Add some music
Music is a great way to get kids’ attention and get them interested a little more in brushing their teeth. You can make up a song together that goes over teaching them how to brush their teeth. If you don’t have a good singing voice, then let your child pick a different song to play during brush time.
5.) Rewards
Give positive reinforcement to your child that they are brushing their teeth correctly through compliments or even stickers. Try doing a sticker board that they can post their stickers to for each day they do a good job brushing their teeth.

While your kiddo is having fun learning how to brush her or his teeth with these five creative tips, it’s important that you get them into a daily routine as well. When they reach the age of 3, remember to start taking them to get dental checkups.

To learn more about brushing tips for your little one, or to make an appointment to start their regular dental checkups, contact Patriot Family Dental in Clarksville, Tennessee. Dr. William Harris and his staff provide general and cosmetic dental services for the entire family.

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