Children who adopt and regularly practice good oral health habits at home tend to have greater success maintaining their smile as they get older. This is not to say a cavity or accidental damage does not occur, but the routine of brushing and flossing every morning and night can lead to positive outcomes, especially when they start at a younger age. If you need help encouraging your child to take proper care of their teeth and gums, keep reading to learn why and how you can praise them when they brush their pearly whites.
Advice From the Experts
According to a study published in Child Development, parental praise can encourage children to persist when brushing their teeth. After analyzing how three-year-olds behave when learning to brush their teeth, researchers discovered that parents who provided more praise and less instruction led their children to brush their teeth longer.
While there is still more research to be done on the topic, experts encourage parents to practice different forms of praise, some of which can be broken down into different categories:
- Process Praise: “Good Job!”
- Person Praise: “Good Girl/Good Boy”
- Other Praise: “Very Good” or “Nice”
Parents can also offer instructional praise to help their child brush correctly. For example, “remember to brush your back teeth” or “keep brushing until the timer runs out” can be used.
Other Ways to Encourage Better Brushing
In addition to praise, other methods can help your child build better brushing and overall oral hygiene habits from an early age. You can:
- Incorporate singing, dancing, or game play while they brush their teeth
- Let them choose a new toothbrush and toothpaste when you take them to the store
- Make morning and nighttime brushing a family routine so that they can see you prioritizing your oral health
- Offer a reward system that includes a prize after they brush their teeth correctly for one week (you set the parameters)
- Use positive and encouraging language when talking about their smile and how important it is to keep it healthy and free of cavities
There are many ways to help your child build healthy smile habits, but if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your child’s pediatric dentist. They can provide great ideas to make the daily experience more enjoyable for everyone.
About the Author
Dr. Ivan Huynh is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Leading the way at Sunny Shore Pediatric Dentistry of Lake Saint Louis, he works closely with children and parents to ensure good oral hygiene habits at home. When help is required, he and our team can offer helpful tips and suggestions to make encouraging young patients easier, which is more likely to produce positive results. Contact us at (636) 265-6073 to schedule an appointment if you have questions about helping your little one enjoy brushing.