The excuses children find to avoid brushing their teeth can be downright comical, but the resulting tooth pain and fillings aren’t so funny. At Aspenwood Dental Associates and Colorado Dental Implant Center, our providers love working with families to promote healthy smiles across multiple generations.
Sometimes the parents we work with find themselves at a loss when it comes to getting kids to stick with good dental habits. If you have a serial toothbrush shirker at home, here are some tips to make dental hygiene more fun.
1. Join Their Daily Routine to Model Good Dental Health Habits
Brushing and flossing alongside your children is a great way to model healthy habits. Put on one of their favorite two to three-minute songs for a brush-off dance party, or have a funny face contest in the mirror while flossing.
Children sometimes associate brushing with going to sleep and put it off to stay up later. Making tooth and gum care part of a larger routine can help. If your child knows nighttime dental hygiene comes before something enjoyable, like snuggling and reading a bedtime story, they’ll start to look forward to brushing.
2. Reward Good Dental Hygiene
Never underestimate the power of stickers. A gold star chart in the bathroom can remind and motivate kids to brush. When they fill their week with two-star days, you can choose an appropriate reward like picking the movie, making their favorite dinner, or having a sleepover with friends. Be sure to bring in full charts for bragging rights – we love adding to the praise!
3. Conquer Dentist Anxiety Together
Our practice provides an inviting, relaxed environment where children feel safe and comfortable rather than intimidated. Still, the noises and dental tools can be a little scary for younger kids (and some adults). Booking your appointments on the same day and reassuring them you’ll be there if they need you is a helpful way to ease dental anxiety.
Book Your Pediatric Dentist Appointment in Aurora, CO
At Aspenwood Dental Associates and Colorado Dental Implant Center, we know firsthand how healthy dental habits start at home. Our founder Dr. Ronald Yaros works alongside his daughter Dr. Lisa Augustine to provide advanced dentistry around the Denver, Centennial, and Aurora, Colorado region. Warm and welcoming dentists Dr. Aaron Sun and Dr. Daniel Zeppelin have since bolstered our work family with their extensive expertise. If you’re looking for a practice that will take exceptional care of every generation, call 303-751-3321 to book an adult or pediatric dentist appointment.