{"id":128,"date":"2022-04-04T21:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T21:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=128"},"modified":"2026-02-23T20:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T20:33:17","slug":"tips-from-childrens-dentist-in-garland-on-why-and-how-to-praise-child-for-brushing-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/04\/tips-from-childrens-dentist-in-garland-on-why-and-how-to-praise-child-for-brushing-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Praising Kids for Brushing Their Teeth Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Depending on the situation, helping your child improve in some aspect of their life can be quite significant. When it comes to oral health, and specifically brushing their teeth, this is a big deal since it\u2019s a key lifetime habit. Offering them praise for brushing could fuel the motivation for them to do it consistently going forward. Keep reading to learn from a children\u2019s dentist in Garland<\/a> why you should encourage your child to handle brushing teeth on their own and how you should go about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Research Shows That Praise Is Impactful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and the Santa Fe Institute evaluated how three-year-old kids brushed their teeth and the connection between their efforts and how often they received praise from their parents. Although the study only consisted of 81 children, they discovered over 16 days that most participants brushed longer when they received more praise and less instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data was collected through surveys and video submissions from the parents. The study was published in the journal Child Development<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Build Your Child\u2019s Motivation for Brushing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To get started, you need to hand the toothbrush to your child, so they realize it\u2019s up to them. It is the only way they\u2019ll learn to effectively brush their teeth. This may seem like more work initially but allowing them to steer the process is great for fostering improvement in their brushing skills, leading them to adopt better oral hygiene habits with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, you\u2019ll need to assist to ensure they clean those hard-to-reach areas but while they\u2019re holding the brush, be sure to offer appropriate praise. You can do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n