Getting children to brush their teeth can be hard. However, keeping your child’s teeth clean and healthy is extremely important.
Not only will it prevent dental risks such as tooth decay, cavities and tooth loss, it will also reinforce healthy oral habits for the rest of their life. Here are some ways you can encourage your child to practise healthy dental hygiene in a fun and positive way; now they’ll be smiles all around!
Use timers and music
Brushing your teeth should take two minutes. Though this sounds like a short amount of time, many people don’t even make it past 30 seconds. Make the two-minute mark by using fun things like egg timers, or finding a favourite song that goes for two minutes and brushing along to it.
Reward Charts
Gold star charts aren’t limited to the classroom. Reinforce your child’s brushing habits with gold star and sticker charts. For every time they brush their teeth correctly, they can be rewarded with a star or sticker.
Team Effort
It’s always important to practise what you preach. Get your child to carry out correct hygiene by brushing and flossing together. Children are far more likely to pick up habits from their parents and brushing and flossing together can be a fun bonding experience.
Special brushes
Toothbrushes don’t have to be boring. Excite your child with a fun toothbrush. There are plenty of kids toothbrushes available that have their favourite TV show or movie character on them. Just as long as the bristle is nice and soft, they’re sure to adore their fun-filled brush.
Videos and books
It’s important that children understand the ‘why’ of brushing their teeth just as much as the ‘how’. By using fun online videos and colourful picture books you can teach your child about healthy oral care in a fun and inviting way.
Fun dentists visits
A dentist visit doesn’t have to be a dreaded experience for a child. There are a number of ways you can make a dental visit fun for kids. Firstly, the earlier a child starts visiting the dentist, the better we can establish a relationship with them. Secondly, use positive reinforcements to improve their dental visits. Perhaps have a fun trip to the park or healthy snack after the dentist so that children can look forward to each visit.
When it comes to teaching oral hygiene to children, it doesn’t have to be a pain. If you establish a good routine, kids can avoid all sorts of risks. Child cavities, tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss are all very real problems that can occur if a child doesn’t take care of their teeth.
Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS)
As fun-filled as oral health can be, sometimes the expenses can be not so fun. Here at Redlands Gentle Dental Care, we strive to ensure that our patient’s teeth are as healthy as they can be. We don’t want you to be limited by financial constraints, which is why we offer the Child Dental Benefit Scheme to our patients. The CDBS is a financial bursary that is offered if:
- You have a child between 2 – 17
- You receive benefits such as Tax Benefit Part A
If you fulfil these requirements, you are entitled to up to $1000 of dental benefits per child. This benefit lasts for two years and covers treatments such as;
- Examinations
- X-Rays
- Cleanings
- Fillings
- Root Canal treatment
If you would like to find out more about the Child Dental Benefit Scheme or book your child in for an appointment, then feel free to contact one of our friendly staff today.
