Dental health is vital for general health and appearance in childhood and all through life. Fighting against oral problems doesn’t have to be boring; actually, it can be fun. This is an important lesson that all children should learn at an early age to help them get the most out of their oral health routine.
Children need to be told by the adults in their lives that caring for your teeth and gums is just as important as washing your hands. Also, nothing works better than setting a good example by practicing good oral care yourself.
Make brushing your child’s teeth fun!
Think of creative ways to make brushing your teeth fun. For example, listening to fun sounds or songs while brushing can help make the entire experience a pleasant, and even fun one. Try listening to a song that is two minutes long to help keep yourself and your kids brushing for the full duration of time recommended. Also, having a cool toothbrush designed for kids that features their favourite characters helps brings out the fun in brushing and allows children to bring their favourite cartoon and television friends into the bathroom with them.
Develop a Reward System - Children should brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily, so try keeping track of your child's brushing on a calendar by the sink with gold stars. If there are two stars at the end of the week, play their favourite game on Friday night as a special prize.
Make Brushing Time Family Time - At night, get together in the bathroom to brush our teeth for the recommended two minutes. Play your favourite song (which is usually around two minutes) and brush together for the duration of the song.
Get Kids in the Right Frame of Mind for the Dentist - Dentists recommend dental check-ups every six months, which can be scary for many children. So prepare them beforehand. Give them an idea of what to expect; try using picture books or do some role-playing exercises to explain to kids what to expect during a dental visit. After the visit, reward them for good behaviour with their favourite television show or a fun activity.
Bring Variety to Brushing - Let your children choose different kinds of fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss to keep in the bathroom so that they can have options each time they brush.
Regular Routine - Make it part of your child's daily routine, so that they can become used to regular brushing.
Let them choose their favorite character or design - Let your child choose their own brush that gets them excited about brushing. Oral-B Toothbrushes have lots of designs that feature popular Disney, Disney•Pixar and Star Wars characters.
Utilize Brushing Games & Apps - Brushing apps for smartphones and tablets, like the free Oral-B Disney Magic Timer App, can help children brush by featuring exciting animation and virtual stickers. The app is available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. For teens 13 and older, the Oral-B FunZone turns daily brushing into a fun, shareable social media experience complete with fun filters and animations. Find it on the free Oral-B app that's available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store.
Lastly, remember that a healthy diet is important in tooth care for kids. Try to avoid or limit sugary foods and drinks. It’s recommended that they only drink milk and water. If you give them sugary foods, only do so at their regular mealtimes.