Getting kids to take care of their growing smiles can be a tough thing to do. They might not understand the importance of their oral health just yet, but it’s important you help them come to this realization. A great way you can do this is by giving them dental toys. Having physical things to mess around with can encourage your child to see dentistry in a new way. Here’s more about why they can be beneficial and which ones you should get.
Why Should I Give My Child Dental Toys?
Whether you want to teach your child about proper dental hygiene or reduce their fears about going to the dentist, dental toys can be a great tool to use. These are just a few reasons they are good to add to your child’s playtime:
- Expand your loved one’s knowledge by letting them explore what their pediatric dentist uses. Many kits have realistic tools like a dental scaler or mirror; that way, they can understand more of what’s used during their appointment.
- Make your child more relaxed at their checkup, as they will be able to understand what to expect, since they roleplayed at home.
- Develop empathy as your loved one will be able to act as an oral healthcare professional and treat their dolls or “patients.” That way, they are gentler and possibly show more compassion.
- Promote proper dental hygiene by teaching your child how to brush and floss properly, so they can mimic good habits.
Which Dental Toys Should I Get?
Since getting your loved one some dental-related toys can be helpful, you might wonder which ones you should get specifically for them. By first making sure you are getting age-appropriate ones, some great options you can consider are:
- Dentist Role Play Kit: These are great to help your loved one learn what their provider does. They often come with a bag, a mouth model, and play dental instruments (like a scaler, mirror, tweezers, and a toothbrush). Having your loved one pretend with their dolls can help them become more familiar with what will happen during cleanings.
- Mouth Model: Having one of these can be good to show your child how to properly brush and floss. You can teach them how to make sure they thoroughly clean all surfaces, then have them try it out themself.
- Crocodile Dentist Game: If you don’t know what this is, it’s a game where you press down on the teeth of a crocodile. There is one “bad tooth,” where if it gets pushed, the mouth closes. It’s a fun way to show how healthy teeth don’t cause problems, but ones that aren’t can hurt and become sensitive.
Finding what toys work for your child can help them in ways you might not have realized at first. Try them out, and you might see that they become more interested in taking care of their growing smile.
About the Practice
At Healthy Kids Pediatric Dentistry, kids in the Silver Spring community benefit from the compassionate leadership of a team of pediatric dentists. We are dedicated to helping tiny teeth feel their best with preventive care. By striving to make sure your loved one has a positive experience, we can be proactive about oral health issues that get in the way of happy grins. If you want more tips on how to get your child excited about brushing, schedule an appointment or call our office at (301) 871-8880.