Dental hygiene is a lifelong practice, so it's important to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy dental habits! You can make teeth-cleaning and dentist check-ups fun for your little one by finding ways to make oral hygiene interesting for them. These five tips can help your child to develop healthy habits with brushing their teeth.
- Do it together!
Young children have a tendency to imitate the adults around them, so why not use this to your advantage? Spend some quality time together with your child in the morning and the evening to brush and floss together, and use this time to teach your little one how to properly use floss, clean between their teeth, and brush those teeth in the back of the mouth.
- Invest in a fun toothbrush
Does your little one have a favorite cartoon character? Chances are, there's a toothbrush for that! Get your child excited for tooth brushing by letting them pick out their own soft bristled toothbrush adorned with their favorite colors and characters.
- Pick a tasty toothpaste
Little ones can be picky, and many will turn their nose up at your typical minty fresh toothpaste flavors. Try a fruity flavor or a bright color to encourage your child to get brushing!
- Sing some tooth-brushing songs!
There are lots of fun songs out there to engage your child while brushing their teeth! Pick a catchy tune that encourages your little one to brush, that they can hum along to as they go. Playgarden Online's Morning Song encourages healthy brushing, which you can find in our Music Library with your PG membership.
- Read books that encourage dental health
Reading aloud to your little one is a great way to learn, and you can find tons of preschool books on dental hygiene that your child will love. Some of our favorites include Why Do I Need to Brush My Teeth? by Caressa Simmons, Brush, Brush, Brush! by Alicia Padron, and The Tooth Book by Mark Bacera.
You don't have to be an expert to teach your little one about dental hygiene! Ask your child's dentist for even more tips on encouraging positive teeth-brushing and oral hygiene habits to develop a lifelong interest in taking care of their teeth.
