Getting kids to brush their teeth is not always easy. There may be times when your kids seem very tired and ready for bedtime – that is, until you say it’s time to brush your teeth and go to bed. That can start a showdown that rouses everyone from a relaxed state.
Make It Fun
So what do you do – how can you avoid these problems? The solutions are not as complicated as you might think. In fact, it comes down to making the process fun.
Kids like things that are fun – so be silly about dental care. For example, make up songs about brushing your teeth or tell your kids that food leaves bugs in their mouths – give the bugs names, such as ice cream bugs, pizza bugs, French fry bugs, etc. Then you can tell them to brush the bugs out and when you check their mouths you can say you still see a candy bug here or a milk bug there.
Getting Serious
Another tactic you might want to try is using a plaque-disclosing mouth rinse. This will ‘show’ the kids the problem areas in their mouths. It can be a great way to teach kids which areas of the mouth they need to concentrate on.
Teaching kids to brush their teeth should begin very early. While young kids need help or at the least, they need supervision, it is important to encourage them to brush their teeth on their own. Teaching this habit can require patience and persistence.
Encourage good brushing habits using what works for your child. Most children enjoy picking out their own toothbrushes. They may want their favorite color or even a toothbrush with a character on it.
Use a timer to teach kids how long to brush – you can find 2-minute timers of various sorts or you can use a kitchen timer.
If you are into a reward system of any kind you could give a sticker for each time your child brushes correctly – and so many stickers could earn him or her a reward.
How Often?
Kids should brush their teeth twice a day and floss one time each day. Of course, it is always best to brush after every meal, but that isn’t always possible – for example, after a meal or snack at school. In this case you can teach your child to stop by the water fountain and swish water around in his/her mouth.
Helpful Foods
Some foods, like crunching fruits and vegetables, can be helpful in keeping the mouth clean. Another way to help clean the mouth is chewing sugar-free gum.
Visit this blog regularly for new tips and ideas about things like kid’s health, home decorating on a budget, craft projects and more. Debbie Allen is a team member at Package From Santa and she enjoys sharing helpful information.
