Toothbrushing Tips For Kids
Being a parent is definitely one of the most difficult jobs out there. You have to take care of your little humans who do not seem to listen to you. They have a world of their own where their only jobs are to play, eat, sleep and play some more. We love them to death and want them to just enjoy being kids but as parents, we also need to make sure that they are healthy. We try to convince them or sometimes force them to eat healthy food. We do give them sweet treats from time to time but we always make sure that they brush their teeth afterward. I think we can all agree that toothbrushing is one of the things that kids hate to do. If you are a parent, you already know how challenging this can be.
Think back to when you were just a kid. What would you rather do? Play or brush your teeth? You’d be lying if you said that you would rather brush your teeth than play outside. As adults, we now know how important toothbrushing is. We need to instill in our kids the importance of dental hygiene. How can we do that? Read on to find out.
Choose The Right Toothbrush
Adult toothbrushes have bigger brush heads and harder bristles. Using an adult toothbrush on a kid makes the toothbrushing process very uncomfortable for your little one. Make it as comfortable as possible by using a toothbrush that was designed for children. Softer bristles and smaller brush heads make the experience more pleasant. These types of toothbrushes are also more colorful with cartoon designs making it look like a toy. Make it seem like playtime instead of a chore.
Toddler brushing teeth by Mark W Langberg, DDS, MAGD
Start Early
It is recommended to instill proper dental hygiene as early as possible. How early? You can start toothbrushing once the first tooth sprouts. This way, the practice of brushing teeth would not be a foreign concept to your kid as he or she grows up. Again, make sure to use toothbrushes made specifically for kids and assist them with this activity.
Brush With Them
Kids will always try to emulate adults. Take advantage of this by brushing your teeth together with your kids. Make it a game of “follow the leader”. Take them through the whole process and wait for them to finish each step before moving on to the next one. This is a great opportunity for you to show them how to brush their teeth correctly. Bonus tip. Make it fun!
Father brushing teeth with his kid by Spring Hills
