Much like trying to get your kids to eat their vegetables, getting them to brush their teeth can be tricky. But, forming good oral hygiene habits while they are young is critical. Here are some tips from our Calgary dentists.
Your Child's Oral Hygiene Routine
Our dentists know that on some days your child may enjoy the brushing process, but often, they will put up a fight. But it's important to remember that needs to get done, regardless of whether your child is looking forward to it or not. You would never allow your child to sit in a soiled diaper just because they don't want their diaper changed, so you shouldn't allow food or plaque to sit on your kid’s teeth just because they don't want them to be brushed.
Brushing twice a day and flossing daily are incredibly important to the health of your child's smile. Until your child reaches eight years of age they simply won't have the proper dexterity to do a good enough job brushing their teeth on their own. So caring for your child's teeth will fall to you.
There are times when it can be a fight, so try to make it fun. Like most things, routine is key.
A few tricks to get your kids excited about brushing:
- Let your toddler or child hold your toothbrush and brush your teeth while you hold their brush to brush their teeth. Usually, this is a fun way that they enjoy brushing.
- Ask your child to look in the mirror with their mouth open and pretend to see "sugar bugs", then proceed to brush.
- Purchase toothbrushes specifically designed to entertain children. Some connect via Bluetooth and kids can follow along on your phone while they brush.
- Offer small rewards for challenging toddlers after brushing – like stickers, reading a favorite book afterward, or holding a special toy.
- Using a (separate) toothbrush, brush the teeth of each of your child’s favorite toys after you brush your own. Talk about how important it is that their toy takes care of their teeth. Most toddlers, upon seeing how much their toy loves having their teeth brushed, will want theirs done also.
- How you ask can allow them to feel some independence. You might ask “Which toothbrush would you like to use?” instead of “Are you ready to brush your teeth?” or “Do you want to brush your teeth?” They'll feel involved in the decision and be more likely to cooperate.
If your toddler isn’t impressed with any of these methods, try using a piece of gauze to rub on his teeth. There are some pre-formed gauze pieces just for this purpose. If your dentist recommends using fluoride toothpaste once a day, just a dab is all that is necessary.