Depending on the situation, helping your child improve in some aspect of their life can be quite significant. When it comes to oral health, and specifically brushing their teeth, this is a big deal since it’s a key lifetime habit. Offering them praise for brushing could fuel the motivation for them to do it consistently going forward. Keep reading to learn from a pediatric dentist in McKinney why you should encourage your child to handle brushing teeth on their own and how you should go about it.

Research Shows That Praise Is Impactful

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and the Santa Fe Institute evaluated how three-year-old kids brushed their teeth and the connection between their efforts and how often they received praise from their parents. Although the study only consisted of 81 children, they discovered over 16 days that most participants brushed longer when they received more praise and less instruction.

The data was collected through surveys and video submissions from the parents. The study was published in the journal Child Development.

How Do You Build Your Child’s Motivation for Brushing?

To get started, you need to hand the toothbrush to your child, so they realize it’s up to them. It is the only way they’ll learn to effectively brush their teeth. This may seem like more work initially but allowing them to steer the process is great for fostering improvement in their brushing skills, leading them to adopt better oral hygiene habits with age.

Naturally, you’ll need to assist to ensure they clean those hard-to-reach areas but while they’re holding the brush, be sure to offer appropriate praise. You can do this by:

• Focus more on their effort than the actual result. Yes, you want to make sure their teeth are clean but praising their attempt will encourage them to keep going.
• Consider the words you choose, using “Good job,” “You’re doing great,” or “very good.”
• Make eye contact with your child so they can see the expression on your face. Words mean a lot but so does facial movement.

Notice that your kids become more engaged with their oral hygiene as you offer more praise. By keeping these tips from a pediatric dentist in McKinney in mind, you can do a great job of promoting children’s dental health.

About the Author

Dr. Sage Yoo earned his dental doctorate from Tufts University in Boston on his journey to become a pediatric dentist. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Yoo has been working hard for little smiles in the Dallas area since he moved here from Boston in 2015. If you have questions about children’s dental health in McKinney, feel free to ask if he – or fellow dentist Dr. Justin Chan – has other tips on brushing or anything relating to dental care. You can schedule an appointment for your child on their website or call (469) 813-7127.