Tooth Brushing Tips for Toddlers
Teeth brushing is an important step in the bedtime routine, but what happens when your toddler refuses to pick up their toothbrush? You may find that your child can be more easily persuaded at the beginning of the day when there are exciting things to be getting on with, but when they’re tired and grumpy, you could find yourself facing some resistance!
However, after a day of eating every little thing they set their eyes on (what is it with kids and ALL of the snacks?), you’re probably really keen on promoting good oral hygiene at night-time, and so I’ve rounded up some ideas on how to encourage your kids to keep those pearly whites squeaky clean
- Make things fun by introducing a sand timer for your children to use to measure how long they should brush their teeth. This is a great visual aid and could spur them on to keep brushing until it’s finished.
- Another handy visual aid to help your child clean their teeth thoroughly is a light-up toothbrush that keeps flashing until it’s time to stop brushing. You could also try downloading a specific toothbrushing app, as these usually offer songs and exciting videos that encourage your kids to keep going until the end.
- Explain why it’s so important that we brush our teeth and consider asking your Dentist to have a quick chat with them.
- Children like to follow your example, so why not get involved and brush your teeth as well? You could make funny faces at each other in the mirror whilst brushing to keep things interesting too!
- Let your child choose their own toothbrush with their favourite characters on so that they’ll be more inclined to use their brush when bedtime rolls around.
- If your little one needs some convincing, why not offer to let them brush your teeth if you can brush theirs first? Play a game of counting their teeth or catching those pesky ‘sugar pixies’ or ‘sugar bugs’ whilst taking turns.
- If your child has a favourite doll or teddy, let them practise on their pretend friend beforehand and play a quick game of Dentists together.
- Borrow some books from the library about teeth brushing. Popular titles include ‘Brush, Brush, Brush’ by Alicia Padron and ‘Brush Your Teeth Please’ by Jean Pidgeon.
- If all else fails, try a sticker chart to gently persuade them that brushing their teeth is a good idea!
The American Dental Association recommends that you, or your child, should brush their teeth twice a day (morning and night) using fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities with regular dental check-ups from the arrival of your baby’s first tooth.
Teeth brushing doesn’t have to be a chore and getting a little inventive can often be all it takes to get your toddler on board. It’s really important to keep things positive so don’t be tempted to hold your toddler down or be forceful with the toothbrush if they won’t cooperate with you. It can be frustrating but this could scare them and will likely cause a bigger problem overall.
