Tips to encourage children to brush their teeth

Convincing children to get used to tooth brushing can be a difficult and very stressful task for both adults and children. And for both of you to get out of this question unharmed requires a lot of patience, discipline and creativity.

According to experts, even before the birth of teeth, it is necessary to do the baby's gum asepsis using the tip of the diaper or gauze with water. From the appearance of the first teeth, brushing can be started, always with specific brushes and toothpaste for children.

By the age of 4, the child already has enough teeth and is able to understand and incorporate brushing into her daily routine and it is at this stage that she should start learning to brush her teeth with the help of her parents and then holding her own brush. .


As in a ritual, always after meals, before bedtime and when getting up, children should brush their teeth, but the drama of some parents begins when they are lazy or stubborn, they refuse to brush or when they do not. do it the right way and not often enough.

If this happens at home too, or if you have children at home, check out these tips to help convince them to take care of their teeth and keep their oral hygiene up to date.

Prepare the environment

There is nothing more pleasurable for the child than finding a space prepared for them that gives confidence. Also, if your child does not like to brush their teeth, all they can do to remove the barriers is welcome. Putting a firm stool so that she can reach the sink and see herself in the mirror is a good start, but make sure it won't slip, if possible, place it on a non-slip mat to avoid possible falls and trauma that may be associated with brushing.


Invite favorite characters

There are currently on the market a number of options oral hygiene products specific for children with taste and pleasant smells. Buying your favorite character's brush, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and even the mouthwashing cup can work with a great incentive to make it time to brush your teeth a lively, laid-back moment.

Turn brushing into a joke

If brushing is viewed as a boring obligation, it is unlikely that the child will be easily convinced, but if it is fun, there is no reason to refuse to take care of the teeth. Let her play with the toothbrush to interact, allow her to brush the dolls' teeth and even yours, if applicable. At first everything will be a mess, but over time, they learn to do it right.

Explain the importance

Making children understand early on how important oral hygiene is for the health of the mouth and the proper functioning of the whole body is also important. For this, it is worth telling stories about caries, showing videos and even photos.


Start with small doses

Many children end up chewing on the brush and swallowing the paste foam, especially when it tastes like fruit or gum, so it is best to start with small amounts of paste and gradually, as you see it, increase. As for bites that spoil brushes, the advice is to be patient and gradually teach that this should not be done.

Insert brushing into routine

Many children may at times end up simply forgetting to brush their teeth, in which case creating a routine of habits such as leaving the table to go straight to the bathroom can prevent some brushes from being forgotten inadvertently or even on purpose.

Encourage by Example

It is much easier for the child to assimilate the need for brushing if she observes that this occurs in her family routine. From a young age, children tend to observe and imitate their parents' habits, both good and bad, so set an example and be sure to brush your teeth for laziness, just as be sure to do all the brushing steps On the contrary, when you finish your meal, invite the little ones to brush their teeth together.

Praise and reward

Whenever your children are done brushing their teeth, make a kind of inspection to see if their teeth are well brushed. If they are very clean, praise and offer rewards, otherwise offer to help, but never criticize or rage not to scare the child, as this can put everything to lose.

Do not stimulate fears

The old story that tooth decay is a monster that lives inside the mouth of a non-toothbrush can cause trauma, so be careful when making this allusion or make it clear that toothbrush is much more powerful than tooth decay. Likewise, do whatever is possible and necessary for your child to look at the dentist's figure as a friend, because if he begins to be afraid of the dentist, you may have headaches in the future.

Take him to a class with the dentist

Understanding the brushing step by step is very important for children to grow up by brushing their teeth the right way, so a visit to the pediatric dentist can be very helpful. They are prepared to teach the order and the right way to use each product, as well as brushing each tooth and tongue.

Insist

If all these devices fail at first, do not give up hope, in some cases this can be a long process, but gradually the child will be convinced. Always stimulate without losing your active voice, but at the same time without losing your temper.

How to brush your child's teeth / Comment brosser les dents de votre enfant (May 2024)


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