By their nature, some children quickly pick up on the grooming tasks that you teach them while others are highly resistant to doing so. If your child falls into the latter category, there's a strong chance that you might face daily challenges surrounding brushing his or her teeth. When your child is young, it's important that you don't give up emphasizing the need for proper dental care. While visiting the dentist and asking him or her to explain the importance of tooth brushing to your child is valuable, the reality is that on a day-in, day-out basis, you're the one responsible for enforcing this healthy habit. Here are three strategies that you can use to make this challenge easier.

Set A Positive Example With Your Actions

You might have an easier time getting the message about oral care across if your child sees that you brush your teeth regularly. You can take two approaches with this -- either make a point of brushing your teeth when the child is around to hope that he or she picks up on this subtle message or actually schedule times at which the entire family brushes its teeth at the same time. You might customarily brush your teeth well after your child is asleep in the evening, but putting time aside to perform this task together can help.

Turn It Into A Game

Games can often increase a child's engagement with something he or she doesn't enjoy. Depending on the child's age, you can do something as simple as placing a timer in the bathroom. Set the timer to your desired time -- for example, two minutes -- and encourage the child to brush until the timer rings. You can celebrate the end of the countdown with a song, dance or any other activity that the child enjoys.

Make Technology Your Ally

Another viable strategy to consider is turning to technology. Take a look on your smartphone or tablet and download an app that encourages children to brush their teeth; there are many such products on multiple platforms. Typically cartoon-like in nature and involving a game, a countdown, encouraging videos and more, these apps instantly inject fun into the brushing process. If your child already enjoys playing simple learning games on your device, he or she will quickly gravitate toward this sort of app. These apps are easy to learn and adept at helping to change children's perspectives around brushing.

To learn more, contact a family dentistry clinic like Village Family Dental.