Effective Strategies to Stop Kids' Complaints About Daily Dental Care

Daily dental care habits aren't that complicated. Kids need to brush their teeth at least two times per day. They should also floss between their teeth and swish with mouthwash. Those habits may seem simple to adults, but they can be daunting to children. If your kids complain about their daily dental care, consider these strategies to kick those complaints to the curb.

Validate Their Feelings

Naturally, parents to want to seek easy solutions for things their kids fuss about. However, simple answers aren't always available for complex issues. Whether they like it or not, children must find a way to live with brushing their teeth for their own well-being.

Before kids can get to the point of getting over their complaints, first they need to be truly heard. You may hold your child's hand during a complaint and look them in the eyes as they express their negative feelings. Listen to your kids' complaints, and then summarize those complaints and repeat them to your children.

Try to understand why they may be feeling frustration with their dental care routine, and then express that understanding. For example, if a child doesn't want to brush their teeth because they have sensitive gums, you may say, "It's easy to see why you wouldn't want to brush your teeth if it is causing you pain. Nobody wants to be in pain."

Partner With Your Kids to Find Solutions

The next step after validating a child's feelings is to find solutions for bad feelings. For example, if your child experiences pain while brushing, you may say, "Let's look for ways that you can brush without pain." Empower your child to play a role in solving their own problems. Reason through the problem, encouraging the child to suggest solutions.

If you have experienced the problem and solved it, you may explain that to your child. Then ask if they think your solution would work for their problem. For example, if you used to experience pain when brushing your teeth but switched to a soft bristle brush to solve the problem, ask your little one if they think that may work for them.

Make Brushing More Fun

One way to stop commonplace dental care routine complaints is to make toothbrushing fun for your kids. Make it a part of an overall enjoyable nighttime routine. For example, if you enjoy hot chocolate and story time with your children every night, make it a family routine to brush and care for teeth right after the story ends.

Put on music and challenge kids to do fun things like lifting their eyebrows in rhythm to toothbrushing or stepping in place while brushing. You may even include a game of Simon Says in the dental care routine. That way, Simon can instruct kids to brush their teeth for two minutes at a time, and Simon can challenge children to thoroughly floss.

If your children really love a comic-book character, consider splurging on a character toothbrush. That can be a fun motivator. Other fun things to do include playing special songs about smiles or dental care and telling intriguing stories about teeth.

Offer Praise for Positive Habits

When you catch children doing something wrong, you may be quick to correct them. Try to catch your kids doing something right just as quickly. For example, when you see your kids brushing their teeth well, praise them. Point out exactly what you appreciate about what they did. Similarly, acknowledge when children do other positive actions for their teeth, such as flossing or using mouthwash.

Also thank your children when they brush or do other positive things for their teeth without being told and without complaining. That can be a good time to discuss acceptance. Children need to learn that sometimes they simply have to do things for themselves without complaining about it.

Finally, encourage your children to be consistent with positive dental care habits. Contact Sparks Dental to make an appointment for a checkup and cleaning for your children today. Regular dental visits are another part of helping your kids develop good habits for life.