As any parent knows, getting your child to brush and floss their teeth can be a challenge. The younger a child is, the harder it can be to explain to them the importance of dental hygiene. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you encourage your child to maintain good oral health habits.

1. Offer an incentive. If your child is stubborn when it comes to brushing their teeth twice a day, try using an incentive system. Use a poster or a calendar just for them, and at the end of each day, if they’ve brushed their teeth twice for two full minutes, they’ll earn a sticker. Once they’ve completed a full week (or month), you can reward them with a special treat.
2. Keep it upbeat (literally!). Sometimes the best way to get a child to cooperate is by making the task fun. Try turning on their favorite song & having a little dance party while they brush. Most songs are at least two minutes long, which is the recommended time for brushing teeth.
3. Lead by example. If you’re still in the stages of brushing and flossing your child’s teeth for them, switch roles and let your child take care of your teeth. They may enjoy feeling like they’re helping you for a change, and you can still instruct them on how to properly brush and floss. 
4. Try the ‘Oreo Test’. A fun way to help your child improve their teeth brushing skills is with the Oreo Test. Before they brush their teeth, have your child eat an Oreo cookie. If you can still see Oreo in their teeth after brushing, demonstrate for them how they can brush more thoroughly.
5. Let them accessorize. It’s important to have the proper tools for dental hygiene (tip: always look the for the ADA seal of approval) but let your child pick a toothbrush or toothpaste with their favorite character on it. This may entice them to use it.
6. Bring them comfort. Having a regular check-up with the dentist is an important part of a child’s dental routine. If your child is nervous about their visit, allow them to bring their favorite stuffed animal or toy with them to the dentist. It may make them feel better about the situation if they have something familiar during the exam.

All TruAssure dental plans are offered in association with the DenteMax Plus dental network arrangement, which includes dentists from the following dental networks: United Concordia, DenteMax and GEHA Connection Dental Network.