Brushing your child’s teeth can be a nightmare or a joy, but most parents and dental professionals agree it is a task that cannot be ignored. While the technicalities of tooth brushing are as familiar to most grownups as their own teeth, getting a toothbrush into your 4-year-old's mouth can be a task akin to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Keep reading for some tried and true toothy tricks of the parenting trade.
Instructions
1. Start as early as possible. The sooner your children develop a brushing habit, the better. For example, if you started “brushing” the gums of your infant (with a washcloth or finger), you’ll likely find it easier to keep it up as your child grows.
2. Develop a routine. Children thrive on routines, although not necessary timed schedules. Therefore, choose brushing times around events they can count on. For example, the morning brushing can happen right after you clear the breakfast dishes. The evening brushing could consistently be after (or before) the bath. Another brushing can happen daily following lunch.
3. Make brushing fun. There are about as many ways to make brushing fun as there are toddler toothbrushes, and there is never a need for forced brushing or screaming power struggles. From silly toothbrushes to brushing songs, toddlers want brushing to be fun.
4. Keep a variety of options in your back pocket. The aforementioned are just a few examples of things you can use for the hundreds of brushing sessions you will have together, but be prepared to have a several techniques available, as what works with your preschooler can change from minute to minute–and then change back again.
5. Do not make tooth brushing a power struggle. The absolute worst thing you could ever do is force the tooth brushing. Doing so will harm the trust you share with your child and will likely make future brushing sessions even more challenging. In addition, a determined child will set his or her jaw and no parent could open it without resorting to abuse. If the child absolutely refuses, let it go and try again later. If you’re brushing regularly, skipping a session once in a while is okay. Use the time to think of some new tactics for the next time.
6. Give them some power. I mean this both literally and figuratively. First, most 4-year-old's love electric toothbrushes, so pick one up and you might find your child’s willingness to brush increase dramatically. Secondly, you could try telling your child that now that she is 4, she is big enough to brush her own teeth and all you need to do is “check” them. Of course, you’ll actually brush them while you’re “checking,” but empowering your 4-year-old will go a long way toward brushing success.
7. Don’t forget the logistics. It’s important to brush three times a day and to floss at least once a day. Get a safer and yummy tasting toothpaste, like Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry, to help kids enjoy brushing.
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