February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

As we’ve mentioned before, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. It can be difficult to teach your young child how to brush their own teeth, but teaching them how to brush them properly can be a struggle on its own. It can be especially frustrating at bedtime, when the entire household is in need of sleep, and your young one refuses to brush.

One idea to make teeth brushing a little bit easier is to make it FUN.

Here are some tips for showing your children that dental hygiene is not only HEALTHY, but it can be FUN, too!

• Play their favorite song (around 2 minutes), and tell them to brush their teeth until the song is done.
• Make it a family activity, and lead by example. At night, before bed, gather everyone in the bathroom for brushing, flossing, and catching up on the day. (Tip: When you are brushing their teeth, do so in front of the mirror, so that they can watch their reflection. They will see what you’re doing and begin copying it!)
• Let them use “fun” toothbrushes, with their favorite characters, designs, or colors.
• Use a sticker chart. Give your child a sticker for each time they brush properly, and give them a small treat at the end of the week if they succeeded.

How do you keep dental health a priority in your family?