Disclosure: This is a collaborative post about brushing teeth
Some children are happy to give their teeth a good brush and head to the dentist without problems. Others, however, need a bit of gentle encouragement! After all, if you think about it, having someone peer into your mouth with tools and mirrors doesn’t feel all that natural!
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash
So, if your child needs a little bit of gentle encouragement – here are some tips!
Table of Contents
Make it fun
As adults, we know that not everything in life is fun, and in fact, many things aren’t fun at all. But the great thing about being a kid is that almost anything can be made into something fun, including brushing their teeth. There are toothbrushes with timers and tunes, flavoured toothpaste, and you can even put on the Blippi tooth brushing song.
While they are busy following the song, their teeth are getting a great clean.
Be Brave
You won’t be the only parent who has an aversion to the dentist, but it is important to try not to pass that down. As tempting as it might be to voice your worry about the dentist, it is information that your children are likely to take on board. After all, with children, it can often be monkey see, monkey do!
So no matter what you need from the dentist, from a regular check-up, a deep clean, or bigger work like a root canal or dental implants – face this with a bit of bravery – and it will help your children to put fears to the side. After all, if their parents and carers are okay with it, they’ll (most often) feel like they will be too.
Flossing
It can be tricky to work out when your child should be flossing – and no, not the dance! Flossing is something that is recommended as early as possible, typically around the age of two, and they might be able to manage it themselves by the time they are 8.
Can you make flossing fun? Probably if you take some time to dance or make up a song while you’re doing it.
There are a few options on the market for flossing; although many people use regular waxed string floss, your child might prefer a brush instead. Try out a few options and see what they like. Autonomy can work wonders for children when it comes to hygiene tasks like oral care.
Mouthwash
Give it up for the gargle master! Some mouthwash is so tangy it can take your breath away; for kids, there are some more mellow and mild options – be sure to test it out before the kids use it, though! The trick to using mouthwash well is to swish for about 30 seconds and not raise your mouth afterward.
For kids, the tingle of the mint can be a lot, so mild is better – have a gargle competition – who is the ultimate mouthwash master?
Dental care is just one aspect of health and hygiene for kids, and all areas need a little bit of work, fun, and cooperation to have the best health possible. Here are a couple more tips for helping out: 5 Tips For Encouraging Kids To Eat Healthily – Monkey and Mouse.