A lifetime of great oral health starts now.

As adults, we know how important taking care of our teeth and gums is to not just our oral health, but our overall health as well. It can be a bit more difficult to teach our kids the importance of dental hygiene, but the earlier they develop these good habits, the healthier they will be throughout their life. 

Read on for 10 fun and easy ways you can teach your kids about dental hygiene and get them started on their journey of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. 

1. Interactive Activities 

One of the easiest ways to get kids interested in dental hygiene is by giving them a hands-on, fun way to learn about it. You can find and use things like 3D mouth models and diagrams to explain the different parts of the mouth and why teeth cleaning and oral hygiene are so important. 

2. DIY Crafting Activities 

Another fun way to get the kids involved in the health of their mouth, gums, tongue, and teeth is to design crafting projects that demonstrate different aspects of oral hygiene. Using eggs to simulate how teeth get stained from food and drinks is a great way to illustrate the importance of teeth cleaning. You can even try consulting with your kids’ dentist to see if they have any new ideas you can use to create informative and fun lessons on oral health. 

3. Make it a game.

If you have trouble getting your children to pay attention to educational activities, then making their daily habits a game might help. Use a buzzer or a timer when they’re brushing or flossing to make sure they spend the required amount of time in the bathroom. When they’ve completed their oral hygiene routine, reward them with a little price. You could even give them a special gift when they leave the dentist with a clean bill of health. 

4. Use songs and rhymes. 

Music is a great way to get your kids into the routine of taking good care of their teeth. Whether it’s humming the alphabet to remember how long to brush or having their favorite tunes playing while they’re flossing and rinsing, music is the perfect way to connect healthy oral habits with fun and entertainment. Plus, who doesn’t love a good song? 

5. Incorporate beloved characters.

Reminding children about their oral health can be stressful at times because it can be tough to keep them interested. One way to keep their interest is to remind them about things, like the Tooth Fairy or dental equipment that’s decorated with their favorite cartoon characters. This will make the entire process of keeping their teeth in good shape more fun and exciting. 

6. Worksheets and Printables 

If you prefer to teach your kids with a more traditional approach, most pediatric dentists can recommend worksheets and other learning tools to help teach kids about proper oral health. You can teach them about how to maintain their teeth and gums and answer important questions about why routine dental visits are necessary to prevent dental problems. Using worksheets and other educational materials can make it feel a lot less like work to learn about good oral hygiene and more like a fun time, especially if the kids get to color or play while learning

7. Kid-Friendly Videos 

We all know that kids like watching videos on their favorite media platforms. So, why not take some time to watch fun, family-friendly videos about oral hygiene. Not only might they enjoy it, but they also might begin practicing some of the things they learn in the videos on their own. 

8. Children’s Books 

Believe it or not, there are plenty of books that teach kids about good oral health, and this is a fantastic way to spend some time together and motivate them to improve their habits at the same time. Whether you use them as a daily exercise, a bedtime story, or just to teach little lessons about tooth health, finding books is a great way to go. 

9. Guides and Manuals 

Sometimes you want something a little more specific for your kids. You can typically find learning materials that cater to specific needs while addressing your kids’ dental hygiene. 

For example, if your children play sports, it can be very beneficial to tailor their oral health education around protecting their teeth while on the court, field, or wherever they play. In fact, doing it this way is likely to keep them motivated since playing sports can lead to increased risk for damage to the mouth and tooth loss. 

10. Together Time 

Our last entry is probably the easiest and most effective way to teach your kids about proper dental health: simply spend time with them and practice your good habits together. Not only does this give your kids a good example to follow, but spending time together is a great way to positively reinforce the proper habits for your kids’ dental hygiene.