Encouraging Your Children To Brush Their Teeth

Making sure your children don’t have ‘dirty’ teeth isn’t always easy – brushing our teeth is something we need to get used to, not something that comes naturally. The mint is a strong toothpaste – and even the texture can be enough to put some kids off! You can swap out toothpaste for tooth mousse – and a few other things!

Photo by Henrik Lagercrantz on Unsplash

Start Early 

Leaving it too late to start brushing can make it more challenging. Making brushing and flossing a regular part of their daily and evening routines is never too early. In fact, dentists like this dentists Reading advise beginning your child’s dental care even before the eruption of the first tooth. Small, soft fingertip baby toothbrushes can help little ones get used to the sensation from an early age. 

Let your child pick their toothbrush too! It can make it feel like they are involved in the process rather than the process happening to them. 

Set the example

If you want your child to do something or say something, they are more likely to do it when you do. If they see you from an early age brushing your teeth, you are more likely to see them getting curious about toothbrushes and toothpaste early on. 

It’s not just brushing teeth, though; flossing, mouthwash, and even breath fresheners in the day. 

Your child will become naturally curious, and you can take advantage of that. 

Flavors 

While mint is the most common toothpaste flavor, it isn’t usually the favorite of young children. Strawberry, lemon, and herb toothpaste can offer a gentler flavor and is one that many people who don’t like mint can enjoy. 

Timers

Making brushing teeth ultra-fun might seem like a stretch – but even the most boring of chores can be enjoyable if you tackle it with the right attitude. Brushing teeth should take about 2 minutes, but if you can’t get your little one to brush for that long – it’s time to turn it into a game. 

Blippi has a great 2-minute long tooth brushing song that can help your child enjoy the season. So a more straightforward approach is to set a timer on your mobile phone and watch it count down together. 

Dance party

If you guys have a favorite song, press play and dance it out until those teeth are brushed, flossed, and gleaming. 

Use the dance moves to help your child to move their hand in the right motion, swing the hips left and right to get that motion on the front teeth, and wiggle back and forth for the rest. 

Keeping toothbrushing fun while still impressing upon them how important it is and what role it plays in our overall health is an important part of raising children. 

Brushing our teeth should not be painful and should be easy – at least once your child starts enjoying it too! 

Taking care of teeth is one of the vital parts of looking after the well-being and health of your children – but there is so much more: Looking After Our Children’s Mental Health – DIY Daddy.