Getting Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Getting children in the habit of brushing their teeth

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The average kid does not like brushing their teeth. In fact, if parents didn’t tell them to brush, they would never even consider it. This is why enforcing a designated brush time is very important. At the same time you don’t want to make it seem like a chore. It should be something they are happy to do, and in time it will become a habit that will just come naturally.

The first thing you may want to consider is your choice of toothbrush. If you can have your child excited about this, then you already have a good start. With all the cool toothbrushes out now, this step should come quite easy.

If your child is very young, and cannot properly brush his or her own teeth, there are a few little things that you can do to make it seem fun. First let your child brush your teeth and make a game of it. Afterwards let them try on themselves; they will most likely not do a great job, at this time you should go back and brush their teeth to do so correctly. If this doesn’t seem like something you are interested in, you could also have them practice on a doll and later try and mimic the process with them.

When you first start your kid off, it is wise to use very little toothpaste. If you use too much, you child may be overwhelmed and it could make the experience less enjoyable. A pea size amount should do the trick. Another thing you may want to keep in mind is toothpaste made especially for kids. These are sometimes a good way to get your child motivated. They are less potent and are a better choice for a younger more sensitive mouth.

If you want to take a more subtle approach; act like you don’t know your child is around, and begin too brush. While in the bathroom you should laugh and act like your having a great time brushing your teeth. Your child will view this as a fun activity and will want to partake as well.

The last thing that you need to do is praising your children for brushing. Tell them what a great job they have done. It will show them that you are proud of them and they will respond to your appreciation.