Having a hard time getting your child to brush their teeth? You are not alone. The kicking, screaming, clenching of mouth, twist and turns can be put to ease by a couple simple fun ways. Singing is always fun for kids. It’s important to make the kids feel like it’s a game more than a chore. One example that may help is by changing the lyric of the song, “The wheels on the bus” to: “This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth. This is the way we brush our teeth so early in the morning. This is the way we swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish. This is the way we swish, swish, swish, so early in the morning”.
Kids are great imitators. They usually want to do things you do. If your child watches you brush and floss, they will most likely follow your steps. Brush together, make it fun, and teach the corrective way of brushing teeth. Proper brushing takes at least two minutes, twice a day. An electric light-up toothbrush will help make the process easier. The proper techniques of brushing your teeth are:
- Place your toothbrush next to the teeth so that it rests on the gumline (the point where the teeth and the gums meet), forming a 45 degrees angle against teeth and gums.
- Move the toothbrush from the gums towards the edge of teeth to move the dental plaque away from the gum line.
- Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Clean the chewing surfaces
For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue, too. Flossing and mouth rinse should be done before and after brushing. Disclosing solution gives color to the tooth when applied on it and it’s great visual aid for your child to check if they brushed correctly and removed all the plaque that is not visible to the naked eye.
It’s important for a parent to understand their child. Your child may have other reasons why he or she does not want to brush. It may be as simple as the taste of the toothpaste to tenderness of gums. Gum disease, buildup of plaque that contains bacteria which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums, is one of the main reasons most people loss their teeth. That is why a six month regular dental hygiene appointment should be made for the parents and their children.
Explain to your child how important it is taking care of their teeth especially if they like to show them off. If they don’t take care of their teeth, cavities and unhealthy gums will make their mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. And they won’t feel like smiling so much. Brushing and flossing properly, regular dental checkups, and using mouthwash that contains fluoride, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
