Oral Health Promotion Through Dental Puppets

Developing and adopting good practices and routines begins at a very young age. When we talk about oral hygiene, it is not only recommended to teach your little one to stick to it but it’s mandatory for preserving their overall health.

However, it is often difficult for them to comprehend the importance of good oral hygiene, so it is parents’ and pediatric dentists’ duty to find attractive ways for its implementation. Considering that every child is different, it is a common thought that there isn’t a universal solution. Well, we are here to bear some good news and prove to you that there are – dental puppets.

If you are a public health educator, a parent who tried it all and failed, or a young pediatric dentist who struggles to keep the youngest patients calm and relaxed in the chair, we recommend you stay with us throughout the following text. After all, we have a common goal – keeping the little ones as healthy and happy as possible by helping them to learn how to take proper care of their oral hygiene. 

What Exactly are Dental Puppets?

It’s not a mystery that kids love puppets. They give them comfort, develop their imagination, and keep them company all day long. Still, the most beneficial ones are those that have a practical use and serve as a great educational helper, and this is exactly what they’ll get from the dental puppets.

They are specifically designed to provide an easily understandable demonstration of the teeth’ positioning, quality, and appearance. The kids can explore the inner and outer surface of the puppet’s mouth as the parent, dentist or educator can show them what a good brushing and flossing technique should look like. So, it is precisely what you imagined – a cute and soft puppet that comes with real-looking teeth. 

Dental Puppets Keep the Children Interested

Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or a professional health educator, you are well-familiar with the fact that the kids usually can’t keep a focus on a particular thing for too long.

The main reason for that could be the lack of understanding of the material or simply too many distractions at the moment, but the key is to offer them something that they are already familiar with, yet not entirely. Let’s say most of the children had contact with a puppet and possibly have a few at home, but the dental ones come with an extra accessory – shiny, white teeth that surely come as a surprise. 

The puppet is perceived as a friend that offers them security and joy, so they’ll want to learn more about their teeth and hopefully, wish to have similar ones when they grow up. This is where you’ll explain that that’s only possible by taking proper care of oral hygiene. 

Demonstrating the Proper Routine with a Dental Puppet is Fun!

The best thing is that the kids can participate actively and practice brushing on the puppets themselves. After you show them how to do it correctly, you can let them have their fun with the puppets and adopt new knowledge without being bored. 

They can explore and touch the teeth, gums, and jaw, and compare them with the elements they currently have. As soon as they learn more about their mouth and why it is important to keep it healthy, the kids will slowly start to understand that teeth brushing is necessary. 

The role-play never gets old, and the dental puppets can serve you perfectly for this purpose. Also, it is difficult to imagine a better brush buddy than a funny-looking stuffed animal. The possibilities are endless, and you would be surprised how spontaneously the kids tend to act around the dental toys, so even if you didn’t come up with the most exciting game, the fun part will never be excluded. 

Dental Puppets Come in Various Editions

Dragons and dinosaurs, or clumsy dogs and friendly alligators – the choice is solely theirs. Depending on your role, you can go for a single dental puppet that you are sure will be welcomed by the child or arm yourself with multiple solutions that will fit the larger group. They come in different sizes, too, so there is a large and small plush option. 

We at StarSmilez dedicated ourselves to promoting dental health in a way that the children can fully be comfortable with. Also, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for the party that is involved in the promotion, so we tirelessly generate new educational materials and wish to welcome everyone with the same goal into our community. 

Contact us today and let us know how we can help, and don’t forget to leave a comment in the section below as we are always happy to hear and share experiences and valuable information.