Tips on Getting Your Kids Motivated to Brush and Floss

One of the best ways to get your child to brush is to start them early when the first tooth erupts.  By establishing a routine, the routine hopefully becomes a habit, like combing your hair.  Before their first tooth erupts, wipe their mouth with a wet washcloth after feedings and begin brushing as the first tooth erupts.  Teething rings are available with a row of soft bristles at one end for baby’s play, associating tooth brushing with fun.  For babies and toddlers who cannot yet spit, use toothpaste without fluoride that tastes good to them, such as bubblegum or fruit flavor.   (Most children do not like mint flavor because it tastes “hot” to them).  Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles that is an appropriate size for their age and size of mouth for comfort and effectiveness.  Some toothbrush companies market a line of brushes with stages or ages marked on the brush, although this is a generalized guide as every child grows and develops at different rates.

If your child did not start brushing at a young age, and is now reluctant to start, begin by educating your child about the importance of good oral hygiene.  Explain how “sugar bugs” (plaque and bacteria) can cause cavities (holes in your teeth) to form from poor dietary choices (too much sugar!) and poor brushing habits that can really hurt.  Teach your child how brushing helps our breath to stay fresh, so our friends will like talking to us (we don’t want puppy dog breath!), how brushing keeps our teeth white, and our smiles looking like a movie star’s!  Young children might like looking at a tooth brush timer (colorful 2-minute timer) while they brush to motivate them to brush long enough (at least two minutes) twice a day.  Other ways to keep them brushing for two minutes might include brushing while their favorite song is playing.  Or, you can make up a silly song to sing while they brush.  Marking a calendar or letting the child put a sticker on the calendar every morning and night they brush can be motivating.  Reward the child at the end of the week for brushing twice a day every day. 

Most children prefer fruity or bubblegum flavored toothpaste, so allow the child to choose which toothpaste and which toothbrush is appealing to them when shopping for these items.  Power or battery operated toothbrushes are relatively inexpensive, and not only motivates your child to brush, but they are usually more effective than manual brushing.  They also come in fun designs and some favorite characters.  By allowing your child to choose which toothbrush or toothpaste, you are also giving them some control over their circumstances which makes them feel good.  They can get so excited about making their own choices that they forget they have to do something they may not necessarily like to do.

Of course, one of the best ways to help your child is by being a good example yourself.  If your child sees you neglecting your own oral hygiene, the hidden message is that it is really not that important.   Or if they don’t see you floss, they may not be motivated to floss either.  Brush and floss your teeth with your child.  Although children do not need to floss until their teeth are touching, start by flossing your child’s teeth for him/her.  There are many colorful fun floss picks for children that make flossing more fun, too.  Make a game of it—“race you to the bathroom to brush our teeth!”   This way, you can watch and help as needed to make sure your child is brushing properly, and you will showing by example that taking care of our teeth and gums is important.

For some fun downloads go to:
www.About.com
Under the channel browser, click on “Dental Care.”  In the search type in dental printables, and several links to games and coloring pages will come up.  Have fun!


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