As adults, we know the importance of good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. It’s a good reflection of our health in general and brushing gives us a happy, healthy smile and lovely fresh breath! But sometimes it can be difficult to pass these habits onto our children, no matter how much we plead, beg, or try to explain the importance of it – or how worried the tooth fairy might be about their teeth, sometimes they just don’t want to know!
So, if you’re looking for ways to make the brushing habit easy and fun, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on for some helpful tips and ideas and pass on good dental habits to your little one.
Visit the dentist
Visiting a dentist like Docklands Dental regularly, is vital when it comes to good oral health and hygiene. Taking your kids to the dentist can definitely be a little adventure for them. The trick here is to not make it seem like going to the dentist is a chore or scary. You’ll find that many dental practices specialise in children, so your little one will always get a friendly wave and get to handle lots of models of teeth and big toothbrushes. Don’t forget the sticker as well!
The toothpaste
Did you know that children’s mouths are actually much more sensitive than ours? That sparkly, fresh and minty feeling we get when we brush our teeth with our favourite toothpaste? It can actually feel more like burning to a little one. There might be a bit of trial and error, but together you can find a toothpaste that your child actually likes the taste of. It’ll make the process much easier for you, and much more enjoyable for them!
Make it fun
Let’s face it, brushing your teeth for two minutes feels like a lifetime and it is rather boring. So, it can feel even worse for little ones. One approach is to make it into a game. Start this nice and early so there’s no rush and added stress. Play a copy cat game and make your mouth fill with bubbles and pull some silly faces, it might be messy, but it’ll wash straight off. Then, let your child take control of the game and even let them brush your teeth for you. Just be wary of a jab in the gums with a toothbrush!
Rewards
Messy play isn’t for everyone, or if you think bedtime is a long enough process as it is, then don’t worry. You can simply create a rewards chart for your child, every time they thoroughly brush. You can put stickers on a calendar, so they can see their progress for themselves and then when a certain number of stickers have been collected they can choose a prize from a lucky dip. Keep it fun and change it up regularly to keep them interested.
Just try not to reward them with sweets and sugary things!
Leave a Reply