{"id":13544,"date":"2022-06-03T22:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T22:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drmaggiedavis.com\/blog\/?p=13544"},"modified":"2022-07-01T22:45:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T22:45:36","slug":"why-you-should-praise-your-child-for-brushing-their-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drmaggiedavis.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/03\/why-you-should-praise-your-child-for-brushing-their-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Praise Your Child for Brushing Their Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As a parent, one of the many things you need to show concern for is your child\u2019s hygiene\u2014children are just as susceptible to oral health issues as adults! That said, encouraging proper cleaning methods and praising your child for practicing good hygiene is crucial for them to establish healthy, life-long habits. Keep reading to learn more from your pediatric dentist in Palm Harbor<\/a> about why and how you should praise your child for brushing their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Praise Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To understand the profound impact that praise has towards a child\u2019s oral hygiene habits, consider the results of a study published in Child Development<\/em>. The researchers analyzed the daily toothbrushing behaviors in three-year-old\u2019s and examined the relationship between their persistence on the task at hand and the amount and quality of parental praise that was received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studies were conducted through video evidence submitted by the parents. The researchers found that the more parents praised their children while they brushed, the longer they continued to brush! Additionally, as parents provided fewer instructions, children also tended to brush for a longer period. Based on the results of the study, a clear connection between praise and time spent brushing can be observed, meaning that praise does<\/em> in fact play a role in a child\u2019s willingness to brush their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Properly Praise Your Child for Brushing Their Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should provide a toothbrush for your child and explain that their oral hygiene is ultimately going to fall on them. It is important that they understand this principle as they develop their own hygiene habits. You might feel inclined to provide a ton of hands-on assistance at first but allowing your child to begin the process on their own will permit them to hone and improve their brushing skills at their own pace. That said, you can still help them clean those hard-to-reach places!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also offer praise and support in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n