{"id":162,"date":"2022-05-11T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T14:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.drdonna4kidsteeth.com\/blog\/?p=162"},"modified":"2022-06-13T14:56:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T14:56:00","slug":"why-you-should-praise-your-child-for-brushing-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drdonna4kidsteeth.com\/blog\/why-you-should-praise-your-child-for-brushing-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why & How to Praise Your Child for Brushing Their Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Child<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Getting a child to brush their teeth<\/a> on their own can be difficult. They might whine, procrastinate, throw a tantrum \u2014 anything that lets them avoid the chore. What\u2019s a parent supposed to do? Wait around until the urge strikes them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New scientific research might have an answer: Praise them! More specifically, praise your children for brushing their teeth by themselves. Read on to learn more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s This About Research?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A recent study on this issue was published in the journal Child Development. <\/em>Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and the Santa Fe Institute observed toothbrushing in three-year-olds and how it was affected by parental praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study concluded that children\u2019s tooth brushing improved with praise. The researchers noted that kids brushed their teeth longer while praised by their parents. Although the study only consisted of a small number of children (81), this positive relationship was consistent. Relevant data were collected through surveys and video submissions from the parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Encourage Your Child\u2019s Brushing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, you\u2019ll need to let your child take over the toothbrush. Doing so is the only way they\u2019ll learn to brush their teeth effectively. Allowing them to drive the process will help them hone their skills, leading them to adopt better oral hygiene habits as they grow older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, offer the appropriate praise so long as they\u2019re holding the brush. Do this through the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n