Your Favorite Tricks for Teaching Kids to Brush
The American Dental Association tells us that our children should learn to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes per session. Two minutes sounds like a relatively short period of time – until you try to argue with the child, who would prefer to hold his mouth for all eternity, and then let the brush go somewhere nearby.
To help develop the habit in a fun way, the ADA gives us a pretty solid list of brushing songs and videos that we can play or sing to our kids while they brush their teeth (they brush their teeth throughout the song and it helps them understand how long it will take). But sometimes even Elmo is not going to give it up, and you need to dig a little deeper into your parenting arsenal.
When one of the parents in our Offspring Facebook group came in to ask to help their one-year-old child collaborate, other members of the group were quick to give him a lot of advice.
Let them look at you
If there is anything that is irresistible for a toddler, it is to watch the adults do the adults and then imitate it. As good as having two minutes of solitary, adult time brushing your teeth, if your child is struggling with this chore, it may be helpful for him to watch you do it.
It worked for group member Angelo, who said, “Ours really got interested in brushing our teeth when he saw us doing it. We noticed his interest and became really theatrical, saying “Aaaaaa” and “Uuuuuu” while brushing our teeth. We gave him a baby brush and are trying to help him do it instead of doing it for him. “
If all else fails, let them brush your teeth. They will do a terrible job, so you still have to brush your teeth again later, but if they help you, they may more readily allow you to help them.
Let them hold a “dummy”
What could be better than one toothbrush? Well, of course, two toothbrushes! Let him hold a spare toothbrush while you brush his teeth. Something about holding that extra brush in your hand and playing with the bristles might be enough to distract them while you walk in and clean up.
Hear them roar
When all else fails, try animal sounds like Jessica did to her son (who she says is now two years old and loves to brush his teeth):
“We made him open his mouth by telling him to roar like a lion, and when he did, we quickly combed it back until it closed again. Then they repeated it about 10 times. “
It’s all about the pasta
Have you ever bought the wrong toothpaste by mistake? Is it the same brand you usually use, but with a little variation (striped toothpaste = no) and does it taste disgusting ? Taste is important here.
Have them try a fun scent or two of children’s toothpaste – watermelon seemed to be a popular choice among the kids of Offspring readers – and let that be their own incentive.
While you shop for the perfect toothpaste, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics is used to recommend fluoride-free toothpastes for children under the age of 2. But they updated these guidelines in 2014 to say parents should use a small swab of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) for children under 3 years of age. Position or tilt your baby so that the toothpaste runs into a sink, cup, or washcloth until they are old enough to spit it out. on one’s own. Children aged 3-6 should brush their teeth with a pea-sized fluoride toothpaste.
At the end of the day, remember that a couple of failed brushings here and there are not the end of the world (or their oral health). It is much more important to be consistent and help them build a daily brushing routine.