How to Get Your Little One to Love Tooth Brushing!

Children’s Dental Health Month has been reminding us why good oral hygiene is important for the overall health of babies and young children. We know that brushing twice daily is critical to preventing cavities, but it can be challenging to get the job done when your toddler or preschooler meets you with a tightly clenched yaw as soon as the tooth brush comes out. A bed time routine can quickly decay to a battle of wills when your child rejects your efforts to brush his teeth. There are tricks though to help make help make tooth-brushing a breeze – or even fun!

Try following one of these First 5 Placer tips:

1. Make it a Game: Think up a game to play that you only do at tooth brushing time. The game could be pretending to be a favorite animal like a lion. Encourage your toddler to open wide and roar while you then get the tooth brush in to get those hard-to-reach back teeth.
2. Sing a Silly Song: Having a special song just for tooth brushing time can really help establish a routine and make the time pass more quickly. The routine helps calm you’re your child, giving them a cue of what to anticipate is coming. Raffi has a great tooth brushing song, or you can just make up your own.
3. Read About It: Reading books specifically geared towards toddlers about tooth brushing will help introduce and show tooth brushing in an entertaining way. There are several interactive and fun books to choose from, such as Brush Your Teeth Please by Leslie McGuire, Brush, Brush, Brush! by Alicia Padron, and Sesame Street Ready, Set, Brush: A Pop-Up Book by Che Rudko and Tom Brannon.
   
4. Show Off: Starting early on, brush your teeth in front of your child. Show how fun it is through smiles and actions, and talk about how he will someday get to brush his teeth just like Mommy and Daddy.
5. Get a Fun Brush: Let your little one pick out a special tooth brush at the store. Many brands offer tooth brushes with popular characters on them. Your toddler will look forward to brushing more if she gets to do it with a favorite friend.

It is also helpful to have a mirror in place that is at the right height for your child to see themselves in the mirror. Another good tip to know is that you don’t need to stress toothpaste right away. Sometimes the taste and texture of toothpaste can be unpleasant for young children, so just using water is okay while getting the tooth brushing routine established.

Need to connect with oral health services for your child? School nurses are an excellent resource for dental health care information and referrals.