Why a Dentist in Florham Park Recommends Watching Videos

As a dentist in Florham Park, we are constantly speaking with parents about their children’s at-home oral hygiene habits, or lack thereof.  It can be particularly challenging for parents to get their kids to brush their teeth.  Even kids that do will often forget to brush properly or not brush for the full two minutes it takes to remove most of the plaque. This can leave parents frustrated and kids upset over the conflict.  In our dental office, we are constantly looking for ways to make this a little easier and are turning to media to do just that.

This is an electronics generation. Kids of all ages love using a smartphone or tablet and are usually good at it by the time they reach preschool.  Whether you have a teenager that is constantly taking selfies and playing games or a tween that loves YouTube videos, kids of all ages are fascinated by what they can do and find on their electronic devices.  Even four-year-olds love to grab a tablet and play Let it Go from time to time.  With that in mind, using this form of communication to educate your kids is a great idea.  They are less likely to balk or complain than if you try any other method.  As a dentist, we think this is an excellent place to start and recommend that you play a video for your kids on how to brush correctly.  Since most kids leave a lot of plaque on their teeth, this simple tutorial can help them learn how to prevent cavities.

Once your child is brushing the right way, we suggest that you focus on getting them to brush for the full amount of time.  If they aren’t yet a teenager, head to the American Dental Association website.  They have a section devoted to cartoons and other videos.  Each one is two minutes long, the exact amount of time they need to spend brushing their teeth.  All you need to do is grab your smartphone or tablet and play it for them while they brush.  Once the video is over, they can stop.  This is far better than using a timer since that’s boring.  Kids want to have fun and stay energized.  As a dentist in Florham Park, we always suggest trying new things that can cause them to create a positive association with oral health rather than viewing it as something to dread.

If your kids are teens and too old for the videos, try a reward system instead.  Since teens love their phone and playing video games, tell them that they have to brush their teeth before they can play.  This is a simple reward system that costs you nothing but will help to improve their health.  If they learn to do the important and healthy things before playing, they will also be learning a positive life lesson.  As a dentist in Florham Park, we know that if your teens can learn to establish good oral hygiene habits before college, they will probably keep them throughout adulthood and decrease their risk for cavities and gum disease with age.