Parents and guardians know just how hard it is to get a child to brush their teeth at home, but what about when the child is away? Whether it is a stay with their grandparents or a week-long camp, it is typically not possible for a parent to be there to brush their child’s teeth at night and in the morning. Here are a few tips from pediatric dental care professionals to get your child to brush their teeth when they are away from home.
Lead by Example: For sleepovers at a friend’s house or their grandparent’s house, you can give them a heads up that brushing their teeth alongside your child will help. Children love to copy what adults or other children are doing, especially young children. Pediatric dental care professionals recommend leading by example when you are trying to get a child to brush their teeth. It is helpful to lead by example when it comes time for a child to brush their teeth.
Establish a Routine: When a child has a solid bedtime routine at home, they are much more likely to follow that routine when they are away. Children and infant dentists suggest creating a routine at home that includes brushing and flossing your child’s teeth so that they can begin understanding that taking care of their teeth is important.
Use Fun and Engaging Tools: Having a song about brushing teeth and allowing your child to pick out a fun toothbrush and toothpaste will help make brushing their teeth more enjoyable. Pediatric dental care professionals suggest that giving children control over what they are using to brush their teeth will give them a sense of ownership, which will help them stay on top of brushing their teeth at home or wherever else they stay overnight.
Educate and Empower: Teaching your children the importance of good dental hygiene will eventually help them form a desire from within to take care of their teeth. Pediatric dental care professionals constantly speak to the fact that parents are responsible for shaping their child’s feelings about dental care. If a parent does not prioritize dental care for themselves and their child, then their child will grow up not thinking that dental care matters. This is a dangerous road to go down, so be sure to prioritize the importance of preventative dentistry for children which will set your child up for success.