Do you struggle to get your children to brush their teeth? Are you dreading the cavities that your family dentist will discover during your child's next dental exam? In order to keep your child's teeth in good condition, it's important to establish good dental hygiene habits when they're young. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do when they don't yet fully understand the consequences of not brushing. Instead of a daily fight with your child or children, here are some tips that will get them wanting to brush their teeth:

Let them pick their own equipment: Just as you have your own favorite flavors, so do your children. The heavy mint taste of adult toothpastes can be too strong for a child, especially for younger children. Your child might prefer a berry-flavored toothpaste or a toothpaste that has no flavor at all. If you like to shop the sales, buying a sometimes-expensive separate toothpaste for each child may make you cringe. But just think of the money you'll save at your family dentist when you don't have to pay to have lots of fillings fixed. Similarly, let your children pick out their own toothbrushes. Younger children may enjoy character brushes that sing, blink, or otherwise do something when they brush. Older children may simply want a "cool" color that differentiates their brush from the brushes of everyone else.

Offer daily rewards: Rewards can be something edible, such as a sugarless gum or candy that your family dentist says is okay to consume after brushing. Or it may be something less tangible, such as allowing your child to stay up a little later when he or she brushes his or her teeth. Whatever you choose to reward your child or children with, make sure that you reward them consistently. Children can't always see long-term consequences, such as potential cavities, but they can easily grasp immediate rewards. As they grow older, good brushing should become a habit that no longer needs to be rewarded. 

Don't make a fuss: Sometimes, children are stubborn and will refuse to do something in an attempt to take control of a situation. While you don't want to let them walk all over you, you don't want to yell at your child or children for not brushing their teeth either. Yelling can make them subconsciously associate brushing their teeth with them having done something bad. Instead of yelling, acknowledge that your child did not brush his or her teeth and tell them firmly that you do not approve. You can then send them to bed early or take away a favorite toy as a consequence of his or her actions. If your child chooses to relent and brushes his or her teeth, the toy should be given back or they should be allowed to stay up until their usual bedtime.

For a family dentist, click this link http://www.allaboutsmilesinc.com/ or do an online search. 

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