Preventing Tooth Decay To Maintain Healthy Teeth

3 Ways To Encourage Your Child To Brush Properly

Getting your kids to brush their teeth properly can seem like a never-ending battle. Your child has to focus on a task for two straight minutes, and for some kids, that may seem next to impossible. Still, proper brushing is important for the health of your child's teeth. Here are a few ways to encourage your child to brush correctly:

Find a toothpaste that he or she loves.

Most kids do not like me intensity of adult toothpaste. The mint flavors that are designed to freshen the breath of an adult may cause a little one to experience a strong burning sensation in his or her mouth. To alleviate this issue, it is best to allow the child to choose his or her own toothpaste.

There are toothpastes designed especially for children available over-the-counter. These pastes are often flavored mildly and are available in flavors that children love, such as strawberry, grape or even bubble gum.

If your child enjoys the taste of the toothpaste, he or she is likely to leave it in his or her mouth longer. Still, your oversight may be needed. If the toothpaste is fluoridated, the child should not ingest a large quantity of it. If your youngster is still small enough to be inclined to swallow the toothpaste, it is best to use a non-fluoridated variety, especially if the toothpaste is in a yummy flavor.

Join in the fun.

Instead of having your child brush for two minutes on his or her own, brush your teeth at the same time right alongside the youngster. Not only will you be able to supervise the brushing session; you will also be encouraging your child to brush by setting a good example.

Most children innately want to make their parents proud of them, and most young children prefer the company of their parents over that of any other people. Thus, your presence alongside your little one as he or she brushes in the morning and before bedtime can make the brushing session much more enjoyable. In fact, the child will likely look forward to it.

Use a timer with an alarm.

Most smartphones allow you to set multiple timers or alarms. To ensure that your child brushes for the recommended two minutes, you can set a timer with an alarm for each brushing session. To make the process even more fun, offer the child a small reward for brushing until the alarm sounds.

To learn more ways to help promote proper brushing, schedule a consultation with a dentist like those at Carolina Forest Family Dentistry.


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