Baby Teeth: Teaching Your Child to Brush

They’re just going to fall out anyway, so why bother to brush them? Just because your child will eventually lose her baby teeth does not mean you shouldn’t take brushing them seriously. After all, gum disease, rotten teeth and cavities aren’t exclusive to grownups. When you teach your kids how to brush their teeth, you’ll spare yourself the angst of running them back and forth to the dentist to fix dental problems that could have been prevented by the simple act of using a toothbrush.

Turn Brushing into a Family Affair

Turn your dental routine into a family event by brushing with your children every night before they go to bed. When you brush your teeth with your children, use proper technique. This way, they will learn how to do it the right way.

Let Children Choose Their Own Toothbrushes

Sometimes kids will refuse to brush their teeth simply because they feel like they are being forced to do it. Allowing your kids to pick out their own toothbrushes gives them a sense of control and makes them more likely to brush their teeth properly.

Read Books about Brushing

Kids often relate to book characters, so what better way to introduce them to the concept of oral hygiene than by reading some quality books about the subject. Reading oral care tips from the pages of a textbook won’t do anything but bore your kids to death. If you want your kiddos to pay attention, choose books that are fun, colorful and age appropriate. You can find appropriate book titles by searching online, visiting a bookstore or asking your local librarian for help.

Turn Brushing into a Game

Since kids love to have fun, teach them how to brush their teeth by making up some fun games. You can have your kids pretend they are using their toothbrushes to zap alien invader bugs off of their teeth. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination to come up with fun games kids can play while they brush their teeth.

Lead by Example

Children love to mimic their parents’ behaviors. If your oral hygiene is lax, it won’t matter how much you stress the importance of brushing, your kids aren’t going to take you seriously. If you want your children to learn to brush their teeth, practice what you preach.

Using fun ways to teach kids how to brush their teeth can help them enjoy the lifelong benefits of good dental health. It will also spare you the drama and expense of unnecessary dental visits.

Author Bio

Lyndsi is a freelance writer that is currently promoting dental marketing ideas such as dental direct mail. In her free time she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.