Some Kids LIKE the Dentist
A few years ago, I sat in the dentist office. My daughters were sitting nearby patiently waiting for their turn to get their teeth checked and cleaned. There was another mom there who commented – in total awe and amazement – about the fact that my girls weren’t freaking out. They didn’t seem to be upset at all that they were at the dentist office. She said she just didn’t understand.
So we had an interesting conversation about how I started my girls at the dentist as soon as their pediatrician as well as my dentist said they were old enough to start having their teeth examined. Both basically said that once they have a few teeth, they should start seeing a dentist! By starting so early, the kids had plenty of time to have great experiences and develop an understanding that the dentist isn’t someone to be feared. The conversation was quite memorable for me when she said WHY her child hates coming to the dentist.
You see, her child’s first visit was at the age of (if I recall correctly) 12. Maybe it was 13. Either way, that first visit resulted in a root canal
….and that’s when I realized that some people take the obvious for granted.
A ROOT CANAL. Duh. Any wonder your child doesn’t like the dentist!
So when my social media contacts present me with the opportunity to help arm kids with some tools and provide them with a happier experience regarding dental hygiene, I jump at the chance. In this case, MommyParties (BSM Media) – in conjunction with Oral-B and Crest – provided me with enough tools to help a whole slew of kids.
As part of MommyParties, I was shipped enough Oral-B Flossers, Crest Pro-Health For Me toothpaste, Oral-B toothbrushes and Disney Gummies (vitamins) to help get the kids on the right track. They also sent balloons, popcorn and cute popcorn boxes! In addition, I was provided with three bottles of Oral-B Pro Health For Me Rinse to share with the guests, which I ended up sending home with three different families.
We’re very familiar with these products. My kids have been using the “For Me” line of products for a few months now. Originally, I wasn’t sure how they would feel about graduating out of the character toothpastes but they didn’t seem to mind a bit. They regularly use the rinse but only when I’m there to help them (because that’s our rule due to their age). As for the flossers, they use them quite often. Actually, they floss more than I do. (Ssshhhh)
I got everything together and was excited to share it. My cousin was my awesome assistant and helped me pack up the goody bags. She’s a lot of fun and we had a lot of fun doing that!
The kids at the party were all smiles as they dug through the bags and found all the cool new stuff. One of my favorite parts of this project was seeing how excited the kids were about getting something that adults might see as mundane. We were participating in other activities but later on, I caught one of the kids riffling back into her bag to revisit the loot! I’m guessing these parents didn’t realize they could make the process of getting new everyday stuff (like toothpaste, toothbrushes, flosser and rinse) more exciting and get the kids more amped up about using it!
There’s one thing that I’m certain of… that with the right tools and the right attitude, these kids won’t be experiencing early-in-life root canals. As long as they carry their excitement back home with them and put their new tools to work, then they are on the right track.
Many thanks to BSM Media (MommyParties), Oral-B and Crest for this fabulous opportunity. For more information on Oral-B and Crest products, visit their websites. If you like their products, let them know via Oral-B on Twitter and Crest on Twitter. The next time you’re at the store, be sure to check out the variety of kid-friendly products to see if you can add some excitement to YOUR kids’ dental hygiene routine! If your kids haven’t been to the dentist yet, please consult your pediatrician and your dentist and get their opinions on when the kids should start regular dental checkups.
