Ask the Dentist: 8 Ways To Make Brushing Teeth Fun!

Dear Dentist: How can I get my child to B-R-U-S-H?!

From: A frustrated mom who is ready to pull out her hair.

Answer from Tanya DeSanto, DDS and Elizabeth Knoedler, DMD.

First of all, please don’t feel alone. As your dentist, we are in your court here to help. With digital x-rays and fancy cameras that can photograph your child’s teeth on the big screen, we can demonstrate and educate! We can introduce your child to their own mouth, teach proper oral hygiene and drive home why it is so important. Sometimes it even helps to show photos of mouths of children who haven’t brushed and never bothered to floss either.

Here’s our Top Ten List of things you can have at home to help keep mouths healthy while having FUN all at the same time.

1. Always keep a fun tooth brush in the bathroom. There are so many neat kinds out at the stores now.
2. Spin brushes work well when kids have orthodontic brackets on their teeth. They really clean up the brackets and remove food effectively.
3. Buy a spin brush that your child can decorate, personalize. The kits come with stickers, alphabet letters, etc.
4. A tooth brush timer is a must. We give these out in all of the goodie bags at our practice. They are minute glass sand timers that will help the child brush long enough.
5. Radio! When none of these are available – there is always the good old fashioned radio. A child should brush for a whole radio song … which is plenty long enough!
6. Fun flossers! You can buy oodles of different kind of flossing tools available for kids. Dinosaur flossers, flower flossers, and even Justin Beiber dental flossers. Adults love the Reach flossers and these are a fun take off on flossers.
7. Sticker charts in the bathroom. These incentives work well. A star for every successful day. Reward the child in some way if they have a 7 star week!
8. Beware of the character toothpastes. Sometimes parents find THE toothpaste in a Dora or Sponge Bob form. But what happens when that character is no longer popular or available in toothpaste form? We recommend Crest Kids sparkle toothpaste. It tastes great, kids love it and it’s always there.

ENJOY! And if we can ever be of help, please call. We promise it does get easier!

Learn more about Prairie Dental Group on our website.