Brushing is an important part of dental health. It’s essential to get your child excited about brushing their teeth and keep them smiling through the process. When you start with the right tools and techniques, it can be a fun activity that they’ll look forward to doing every day. Here are some ways you can make brushing fun for your kids:
1. Brushing time is story time
Kids love bedtime stories. Instead of telling them a story in bed, you can tell them a story while brushing. A brief adorable story will keep your child interested and motivated for the entire two minutes they spend brushing their teeth – they finish brushing their teeth once the story ends. This will make them look forward to it each day. Especially, if you narrate the story in series, it will make your child excited to get to know what happened to the characters in the story, and to your surprise, you’ll find them holding their brush even before you arrive at the bathroom.
2. Make brushing an adventure
Make your child brush at the same time each day with a location change to keep it interesting and fun! For example, have them brush their teeth in the garden while playing with your pet, or have them sit in their toy car and brush while they drive. The possibilities are endless! You can also use a timer so that they know how long they have until they need to stop brushing (ideally this should be 2 minutes). This will allow them plenty of time to focus on getting everything done right!
3. Use the right toothbrush
Begin by choosing the right toothbrush. A soft-bristled brush is best for children as it will not irritate their gums. A small head-size brush makes it easy for their little hands to hold on to and easy for them to grip. You can also get creative with the toothbrushes. Try using a different colour toothbrush or let them choose their own character-based toothbrushes to keep them interested in brushing. If you have an older child who has been brushing for a while and wants to do something fun, give them the option of choosing a shape-based or sound-based toothbrush instead.
4. Get creative with toothbrushes
One of the best ways to make brushing fun for kids is to buy them an electric toothbrush. A high-quality electric toothbrush has a feature that pauses after 30 seconds to alert your kid that it’s time to go to a new brushing spot. Your youngster will be able to brush properly since they will know when to switch. Additionally, a good electric toothbrush for children is typically a smart toothbrush that automatically turns off after the advised amount of brushing time. The basis of good oral hygiene and dental health is having healthy gums. Buying your child the best electric toothbrush will prevent gum disease and keep their teeth in great shape – and also be fun!
5. Create fun Games
Choose a game that your child will like by taking into account both their personality and age. Before your child brushes their teeth, assist them to brush the teeth of their favourite stuffed animal or doll in the bathroom. If they think they are contributing to the health of their toy, they could value brushing their teeth more. Play “Squash the Germies” if your child is older and has an understanding of germs. Encourage them to remove all the bacteria from their teeth and the area around them. You might act as though you’re checking their teeth after they spit out their toothpaste and rinse their brush, pointing out any areas where bacteria are still hiding among the bristles. Games like these demystify the toothbrush and associate it with happiness and encouraging words.
6. Let them pick out the toothpaste flavour
There are many kinds of toothpaste created exclusively for kids which are available in your neighbourhood grocery store. Your kids will be excited to use the toothpaste every night and morning when they see their favourite characters on the toothpaste package. You can buy toothpaste designed to your child’s preferences, like berry, and available in exciting flavours like Spiderman, or Peppa Pig.
Using” training toothpaste” can assist young children who are just learning to brush their teeth under the age of two. Since training toothpaste doesn’t include fluoride, it is safer for young children to ingest when they are learning to brush.
7. Acknowledge their growth
Kids develop much more quickly than most parents would like; they go from being babies to toddlers who insist on doing things on their own in the space. This is advantageous, especially for their dental health. It will be clear to you when they begin brushing their teeth on their own that you have been successful in establishing this healthy habit. Giving them their freedom will encourage them to feel responsible for their oral health. Now all you have to do is watch them and point out any details they could have overlooked to make sure they execute it correctly.
Schedule an appointment with the best dentist for toddlers in Dubai
The more your kids brush their teeth regularly; the better off their overall oral health will be down the road. When your child gets their first tooth or no later than their first birthday is the optimal time for their first pediatric dental visit. Dr. Yasmin Kottait, the best pediatric dentist in Dubai, responds to frequent queries about how to brush, what toothpaste to use, and other crucial queries, most of which are related to feeding (whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding). Dr. Yasmin ensures that the primary purpose of your child’s first dental appointment is to familiarise them with the setting of her dental office rather than to perform any dental work. To make your child more comfortable, she lets them experiment with various instruments and sit in the chair providing a wonderful opportunity for your child to feel at ease and build a lasting friendship with her.