Turn Kids’ Toothbrushing Tears to Cheers
If toothbrushing time is a daily struggle for your children, try
these tips to turn those tears into cheers:
- Play music in the bathroom—any fun two-minute song will do!
- Show your kids the latest interactive brushing apps
- Offer little ones rewards, such as stickers, high fives or extra bedtime stories, for good toothbrushing skills
- Take them shopping for their own toothbrushes
- Make brushing a family affair. There’s always room or one more at the sink!
As parents and guardians, we are responsible for the health
and well-being of our children, including their oral health. So,
it’s never too early to start teaching good oral hygiene habits to
reduce the risks of tooth decay and oral disease.
Once baby’s first tooth appears, parents and guardians should
clean it with a small, soft toothbrush or gauze and use floss to
clean between teeth that are touching.
Young children who are
old enough to hold a
toothbrush should be
taught how to brush their
teeth twice a day and to
clean between their teeth.
Parents and guardians need
to help with toothbrushing
until children can do it
properly on their own.
Teens should be reminded
that brushing their teeth only takes two minutes twice a day,
followed by oral rinsing and cleaning between the teeth. Asking
them to go easy on the pop and junk food will help too.
Building good daily home oral hygiene habits and scheduling
regular dental hygiene appointments beginning at age one will
give everyone in your household something to cheer about.
Find more tips at www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/kids