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For children, brushing their teeth can seem like a bit of a chore. There is absolutely nothing fun, nor exciting about brushing your teeth for children. So, change the way they think about brushing, make it as fun as you possibly can like archeologists do while hunting for rocks that are worth money.
Brushing shouldn’t be boring
If you’re struggling with getting your child to brush their teeth for the full two minutes, then here are a few tips and tricks to get your child into a good dental health routine.
Use apps to make brushing entertaining
There are so many apps for your phone on the market right now that are ready to help you when it comes to getting your child to brush their teeth. Disney’s Magic Timer is the perfect example of this as this app flashes up photos of your child’s favorite characters, including princesses, animals and mermaids. Every time your child brushes their teeth, they win points towards getting a Magic Album.
Another app that is great for kids is Tiny Dentist. This app turns your phone screen into a dentist’s office and your child can navigate the dentist tools. Children get to play with these tools and learn to not be scared of the dentist or brushing their teeth.
Your oral hygiene routine should be part of a group activity
Children are often known to mirror and copy their parents’ behaviour. So, if they’re not brushing their teeth properly, then try brushing with them. This will not only help your child to understand the importance of establishing a routine but will also help to bond you together like you do while feeding the squirrels in the backyard as you take part in a family activity. This way you can also control how long they’re brushing for.
Think of a reward for your children after brushing
Children don’t like to do mundane tasks without a reward. If this is the case, then try implementing some sort of reward system which is associated with brushing their teeth. You can also get other household tasks involved with the same reward system. A sticker chart could be a good method to adopt, so when your child has finished brushing their teeth, give them a sticker to place on the chart. An alternative is to give them rewards like an extra fifteen minutes up before bedtime.
Get your child involved with selecting their toothbrush and toothpaste
Children tend to always be drawn to bright colours and fun-looking brushes, so let them choose their own. Many toothbrushes also come in a variety of colours and you can even get them with their favourite character on them, from Frozen to Scooby-Doo. So let them choose their favourite toothbrush, and they’re more likely to be excited to brush with it.
Also, it might be an idea to let them choose their own toothpaste too. Children’s toothpaste comes in non-minty flavours too, including strawberry. A yummy toothpaste can make your child eager to brush their teeth as it just tastes like a sweet treat. There are also kinds of toothpaste that have nozzles that make the toothpaste come out in fun shapes, like stars and hearts – it’s just another fun way of making brushing their teeth exciting.
Brush their teeth to a song
Brushing teeth in silence is not fun in any way. Going back to what we were saying earlier about using apps as a tool to encourage a good dental health routine, the app Brush DJ might be able to help here. This app plays exactly two minutes of music for your child to brush their teeth too – the good news is, it’s free! Brush DJ has many songs ready for you to play, including Disney’s ‘Bare Necessities’ and Little Mix’s ‘Sweet Melody’. This app allows you to sing and dance while you and your child are brushing their teeth.
Make brushing exciting again
The key is to make your child see brushing as less of a chore and more of an exciting event. For a child, brushing their teeth for two minutes can seem like a long time, so break up the time and make it more exciting. This way your child’s teeth will be as healthy as they can possibly be, and brushing won’t be a chore for you either.
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