A Tale As Old As Time: My Kids Refuse to Brush Their Teeth
Does your kid love to brush their teeth? We didn’t think so. Parents all over Florida and across the nation have a common complaint: “I can’t get my kids to brush their teeth!” Around ⅔ of parents admit their children aren’t interested in brushing their teeth or don’t understand why it’s important. Why is this true, and what can parents do to instill in their children the value of maintaining good oral health?
Kids Just Wanna Have Fun
In a kid’s mind, the few minutes it takes to brush and floss could be much better spent playing with toys, going outside, watching TV, or gaming. They view the twice-daily routine of oral hygiene like a chore that takes time away from the things they love to do. Also, a child may not grasp the long-term benefits of preventing cavities, gum disease, and maintaining good oral health. These concepts are too abstract and far removed from their immediate reality for them to see the value. And parents are often unsure how to communicate the importance of oral hygiene in an age-appropriate and engaging way.
What Parents Can Do
If you’re having a hard time convincing your child to take care of their teeth, maybe it’s time to get creative. Here are a few options:
- Reward good behavior: If you want your child to brush their teeth for a full two minutes each morning and night, devising a reward system can help. Perhaps they’d rather be watching their favorite show or playing a game. For every two minutes of brushing they complete, consider adding two minutes of screen or gaming time.
- Make it cool: Younger kids may be more likely to brush and floss without complaint if they see one of their favorite characters doing just that. Lots of kids’ shows have episodes or shorts about oral hygiene. For older kids, you may be able to find similar videos of their favorite celebrities and influencers. If not, you can still point out that their idols all have nice smiles, which means they all spend time taking care of their teeth.
- Have fun: Kids are more likely to take oral hygiene seriously if it’s paired with some fun. One option is to make brushing your teeth a family dance party where the kids get to pick the music. The length of one song is plenty of time to brush and possibly floss. Another option is to let kids have (supervised) screen time while they’re brushing and flossing so it doesn’t take them away from what they’d rather be doing.
- Get some face time: Try brushing your teeth along with your children. They’ll enjoy the time with you and learn that oral hygiene is important for everyone. To keep things fresh, try calling up a cousin, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or friend and put them on video while they brush their teeth at the same time as your kid.
The Dentist Is Your Friend!
When kids resist brushing and flossing their teeth, don’t forget that the dentist is your ally. We work with kids of all ages and levels of learning comprehension and know how to speak their language. Specialized training means we have plenty of resources aimed at motivating kids and helping them understand the importance of oral hygiene.
At Ackley Dental Group in Spring Hill, FL, we’re here to help parents who struggle with getting their kids to practice consistent oral hygiene habits. Please contact our office if you have questions, and while you’re at it, let’s schedule cleanings for you and your children. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!
