How to get your child brushing their teeth

If your child has reached the age when they can start brushing their teeth without your help, it is the right time to help them develop a dental care routine. If you show them how to do it in the right way, they will be eager to brush their teeth and won’t see it as a chore.

Make sure you emphasise the benefits of brushing teeth at least twice a day and explain the consequences of avoiding this practice. When you are brushing your teeth, ask your child to do the same and lower your face to their level and do this simultaneously. Show them how they can brush in a circle and compare that to wiping windows or vehicle wheels rolling. Use the front and back and top and bottom technique too.

Another great way to develop this routine is to ask them to choose their toothpaste and toothbrush. There are special children’s toothpaste with different tastes and designs and if they feel part of the selection process, they will be more inclined to be keen to use it. It is easy to find toothpastes featuring popular characters and super heroes so choosing one shouldn’t be a problem. For variety, buy them a few different kinds of toothpaste and let them use different kinds of toothpaste every once in a while. Of course, make sure that the toothpaste is safe and made from a reputable brand in the industry.

When your child turns about two years, let them squeeze some toothpaste on the brush and ask them to try and clean their own teeth. Don’t be too concerned about the mess because it is very simple and easy to clean toothpaste leftovers!

If you want to be more creative you can turn this process into a game. Devoting two minutes to cleaning should be the minimum period of time dedicated to this procedure. Bring a timer into the bathroom and tell them they if they manage to reach two minutes they are the winners. Brush your teeth together and encourage them throughout the process. After the two minutes, inspect their teeth and gums and praise them for their work.

Getting your children to brush their teeth can be a problem so the more fun and sense of competition you can inject into the process, the easier it will be.

For more advice about effective dental care for children, please contact us now.