Getting children to brush their teeth can be a real struggle – but squeezing a bit of fun into the routine could help to get them onboard.
Screaming, mouth clenched shut, running off, toothbrush hidden – these are all scenarios many parents will be faced with when trying to get their children to brush their teeth.
The harder you battle to brush their teeth, the more they will resist.
However, with daily dental hygiene being something that can’t just be skipped, when faced with a brushing refusal it’s time to take action.
Here are some top tips to add fun to brushing your children’s teeth:
Sing their favourite song
Be it a nursery rhyme, TV theme tune or pop song they should, hopefully, be amused by your rendition. The first time they will probably stare at you long enough to get brushing, keep it up and hopefully it will become part of their daily routine.
Make up your own tooth-brushing song
Change the words to a song they know to make it about them and their friends, or what you have been doing that day. That should keep your child’s attention long enough to get their teeth brushed.
Invest in a timer
Let them set the timer off and they will be taking an active part in their daily dental routine. There are plenty of themed tooth brush timers on the market, from musical ones to action characters. It will also signal how long brushing their teeth will take.
Let them choose their own toothbrush
Letting your child choose their own toothbrush should make them feel grown up – and they will also be excited to use it, for the first few times at least.
Count the time
Children can be amused by things adults would never think of, not least counting through two minutes as you brush their teeth. This has an added bonus as it will help them to learn their numbers.
However you manage it, experts recommend brushing your child’s teeth twice a day for two minutes – once before bedtime and again in the morning. Make sure you can reach the front, back and top of the teeth – and the back molars to give the best protection against decay.
So when that moment arrives, grab a toothbrush, arm yourself with your best smile and give your tooth brushing routine some added polish.
Author Bio:
This is an article by Jo Wilson. She writes for a dental health blog. For more information on Children’s dental health please head over to Bhandals Dentistry.
