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As a parent, there are many things that you need to help your children learn as they grow. During their early years, brushing is high on that list. To help your kids keep their smile for a lifetime, it’s important to first make sure that they know the proper technique, and then ensure that they continue to use while brushing regularly. But sometimes that’s easier said than done.
If you have a hard time getting your kid to brush, try one of these methods to make the process more fun. 1) Brush together. Have you noticed how quick kids are to copy things that they see you or other adults too? Brushing is no exception. If you want your child to have good oral hygiene, you need to lead by example. In the morning and before bed, get out your own toothbrush and brush together. Little ones will enjoy being a “big kid” and you’ll have the opportunity to make sure that they’re brushing correctly. Most kids don’t really get the hang of it until around the age of 8, so you’ll probably need to do some touching up when they’re younger. |
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2) Create a goal.
Whether it’s exercising, eating healthy or - in this case - keeping your teeth clean, having a goal to work toward makes a repetitive process much more interesting. Depending on the age of your child, this could mean creating a chart where they get to fill in a square with a sticker or check mark every time they brush and earn some sort of prize at the end. Colgate offers a great, free chart for download and use!
3) Buy fun brushes.
Does your child have a favorite color or cartoon character? Buy a fun brush and watch how quickly bedtime becomes that much more fun. If that means buying a new superhero or princess brush every month, so be it. Usually these brushes are extremely inexpensive and well worth the investment if they help keep your child’s smile bright.
4) Make it a game.
It’s doubtful that your child will become excited when you say that it’s time to brush their teeth. But what about if you ask them to play a game? Make brushing more fun by explaining to your child that the sugar bugs - bacteria - on their teeth will eat away their teeth -cavities - unless they do something about it. Frame it as a game where they use their brush to fight those bugs and keep their teeth clean.
5) Buy disclosing tablets.
Not sure if your kid is doing a good job brushing? Try disclosing tablets. These tablets will not only make brushing more interesting for your children, but will also let you know if they’re missing spots. They dye the plaque a bright color, making the plaque suddenly become visible! Kids are always amazed when they see bright pink or purple spots on their teeth that prove they need to be brushing better. This will also allow you to easily tell if you need to talk to your son or daughter about brushing more thoroughly. Disclosing tablets are available at many local drug stores, online (like amazon.com) and we have them here at the office!
Whether it’s exercising, eating healthy or - in this case - keeping your teeth clean, having a goal to work toward makes a repetitive process much more interesting. Depending on the age of your child, this could mean creating a chart where they get to fill in a square with a sticker or check mark every time they brush and earn some sort of prize at the end. Colgate offers a great, free chart for download and use!
3) Buy fun brushes.
Does your child have a favorite color or cartoon character? Buy a fun brush and watch how quickly bedtime becomes that much more fun. If that means buying a new superhero or princess brush every month, so be it. Usually these brushes are extremely inexpensive and well worth the investment if they help keep your child’s smile bright.
4) Make it a game.
It’s doubtful that your child will become excited when you say that it’s time to brush their teeth. But what about if you ask them to play a game? Make brushing more fun by explaining to your child that the sugar bugs - bacteria - on their teeth will eat away their teeth -cavities - unless they do something about it. Frame it as a game where they use their brush to fight those bugs and keep their teeth clean.
5) Buy disclosing tablets.
Not sure if your kid is doing a good job brushing? Try disclosing tablets. These tablets will not only make brushing more interesting for your children, but will also let you know if they’re missing spots. They dye the plaque a bright color, making the plaque suddenly become visible! Kids are always amazed when they see bright pink or purple spots on their teeth that prove they need to be brushing better. This will also allow you to easily tell if you need to talk to your son or daughter about brushing more thoroughly. Disclosing tablets are available at many local drug stores, online (like amazon.com) and we have them here at the office!