Help! My Child Refuses To Brush!

Posted on 8/15/2024 by Great Grins for KIDS

Photo of young girl putting toothpaste on toothbrush atGreat Grins for KIDS - Portland in Portland, OR

Parents know there are always battles to fight when children are young. It's very difficult to reason with a toddler. You fight with them over shoes or underwear or wearing pants or even stuffed animals. One of the most common battles parents have with young children is the tooth brushing battle. Young children often refuse to brush their teeth. Here are some suggestions for making sure your child brushes each day.

Model For Your Child

Children want to be like their parents, and they love imitating them. Let your children watch you brush and floss. You can make silly faces in the mirror, sing and dance around, and even yodel while you brush to entertain your child. They will love it, and if you ask them to practice with you, it's a safe bet they will want to act goofy- which means they can get their teeth cleaned while they're acting.

Reward Your Child

Young children love a reward in exchange for performing a task, so why not make toothbrushing a prize? You could make a chart, and you can let your child add a sticker each time they brush and floss their teeth. Let your son or daughter choose a prize they want, such as a toy. Some parents have different sizes of rewards. If your child brushes for a few days, they could choose a smaller, less expensive prize. If they brush every day for a month, they could choose a larger prize or activity.

Choices

Sometimes, children are more inclined to brush their teeth if they get to pick out their toothbrush and toothpaste. Today's toothbrushes come in all kinds of characters, shapes, and colors, so your child will be able to find a toothbrush they love. There are also many kinds of toothpaste flavors, which means your child can find their perfect flavor.

No matter how to choose to motivate your child to brush, take heart. Before you know it, your child will be at an age where you can reason with them. Once they understand the importance of good dental hygiene, you'll be able to let them take over their own brushing routine.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161 ~ (971) 470-0054 ~ portlandchildrensdentist.com ~ 10/3/2024 ~ Associated Words: pediatric dentist Portland ~