The battle happens just about every day.
You’re getting ready to leave the house or put your kids to bed, and you ask, “Did you brush your teeth?!”
You’re hopeful for good news, but deep down you suspect you already know the answer… which is often solidified not by a verbal response, but by your child running away. *sigh*…
Yes, getting kids to take care of their dental hygiene can sometimes feel like a neverending battle, especially during those transitional times in the day. But it’s important for parents, guardians, and caregivers to stay strong!
Even though it’s highly preventable, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases among children ages 6 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dental care is important for everyone, no matter how old you are. Oral health is connected to overall health, and poor dental hygiene can lead to issues such as gum disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
Did You Know? May is Dental Care Awareness Month, a time to focus on the importance of dental care and oral health!
To help make the teeth-brushing process a little easier, we put together 5 tips to encourage your kids to take care of their teeth:
Help your kids understand why dental hygiene is important
Children may not be motivated to take care of their teeth because they don’t understand why they need to. Maybe they think their teeth feel fine without brushing them, or they think their baby teeth don’t matter since they’re going to fall out anyway. If you help your kids understand why dental hygiene is so important, they may be more willing to brush and floss.
Let your kids know that even if they don’t feel pain in their teeth now, not taking care of them may lead to cavities, which can be very painful, especially when eating or talking. Infections from cavities may also hurt the adult teeth growing underneath baby teeth, so it’s important to keep your teeth clean and healthy even if they’re not permanent.
For good dental hygiene, the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth using fluoride toothpaste twice a day for two minutes each time. You should also floss once a day to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and in your gums, where a toothbrush can’t reach.
Rinsing with mouthwash can be a good addition to your oral care routine, but it’s not a substitute for brushing and flossing. The National Health Service also recommends using mouthwash before brushing your teeth so you don’t rinse away the fluoride.
Let kids choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste
Help make the routine of brushing their teeth more exciting and personalized by letting your kids pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste! Most stores have a variety of toothbrushes with popular characters and bright colors, along with different toothpaste flavors, such as bubblegum and strawberry.
Many kids struggle to floss using regular dental string, so letting them choose their own type of floss may also encourage them to floss more. Floss picks tend to be much easier for children to use, and just like with toothbrushes and toothpaste, they come in an array of fun flavors and shapes.
When kids get to choose their own dental hygiene products, they will feel a sense of ownership over the routine, which will hopefully motivate them to brush regularly. Plus, using products they like will make the task more enjoyable!
Brush your teeth along with your kids
Children learn by watching what their parents and caregivers do, so teach them to keep their teeth healthy by making dental care a family activity. Show them that brushing your teeth and flossing are part of everyone’s routine. You can use this time to bond with your kids while also teaching them proper brushing and flossing techniques and the importance of oral hygiene.
Add some fun to the brushing process
Make it fun for your kids to brush their teeth by adding games and rewards to the process! Let your kids choose a song to play over a speaker or smartphone while they brush their teeth, and dance along to the song while brushing. If you play the song for two minutes, it can also be used as a timer — just make sure your kids are brushing for the entire time.
Another game is to challenge your kids to brush as much as they can, and then have them use dental plaque disclosing tablets to find out how well they did. These tablets highlight plaque buildup with temporary colored dye. If their teeth have dye after brushing them, your kids will know what spots they missed. Have them keep brushing and flossing until all the dye is gone.
If your kids are consistently brushing and flossing, reward them! Create a chart where they can add a sticker each time they successfully clean their teeth. After a week of brushing and flossing, they can earn a reward, such as a small toy or an extra story at bedtime.
Address sensory sensitivities
Some kids may have sensory sensitivities that make brushing their teeth feel uncomfortable. If your kids are overwhelmed by the feeling of brushing, try different types of toothbrushes, especially ones with softer bristles, to see if those feel better on their teeth.
You can also try different flavors of toothpaste. If your kids don’t seem to like what they have, let them pick out another one. You may even want to get a few flavors so they can try different ones to find out what they like. Alternatively, some toothpastes are made with milder flavors and less foam to help with sensitive mouths.
Encouraging kids to take care of their teeth doesn’t have to be a daily struggle. Help your kids by instilling good dental hygiene habits that will benefit them for years to come and ensure their teeth stay clean and healthy.
Happy brushing!
