Toothbrushing is an important self-care skill that you should teach your child. Aside from preventing diseases and sickness, teaching your child the correct way of brushing their teeth will help them become more involved in caring for their oral health.
What Age Should You Teach Your Child to Brush Their Teeth
Teaching your child to brush their own teeth is an important step in helping them maintain good oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay. But when is the right time to start?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents begin cleaning their child's teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts, typically around 6 months of age. At this age, parents can use a damp cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the teeth and gums. As more teeth come in, parents can transition to a small, pea-sized amount of toothpaste to use during brushing.
By the age of 2 or 3, most children have the dexterity and coordination to begin brushing their own teeth with adult supervision. However, it's important to note that young children may not have the ability to brush effectively or for the recommended two minutes, so parents should continue to assist with brushing until around age 6 or 7.
Toothbrushing Techniques to Encourage Your Child to Brush Their Teeth
Teaching your child how to properly brush their teeth is an important part of promoting their oral health and hygiene. But for many children, brushing their teeth can be a boring or tedious task.
Here are some fun ways to teach your child how to properly brush their teeth:
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Use a fun toothbrush.
One way to make brushing their teeth more fun for your child is to use a fun toothbrush. Here are some examples of fun toothbrushes that you can use to make brushing their teeth more enjoyable for your child:
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- Character toothbrushes: Many toothbrush brands offer toothbrushes featuring popular characters from movies, TV shows, or books. These toothbrushes can be a great way to make brushing their teeth more fun for your child, as they can choose a toothbrush featuring their favourite character.
- Light-up toothbrushes: Some toothbrushes have built-in lights that flash or change colour when the toothbrush is in use. This can make brushing their teeth more fun and engaging for your child, and can also help them see where they are brushing more easily.
- Music toothbrushes: Some toothbrushes have built-in speakers that play music or other sounds when the toothbrush is in use. This can make brushing their teeth more fun and entertaining for your child, and can also help them brush for the recommended two minutes.
By using these fun toothbrushes, you can help your child enjoy the brushing experience and be more motivated to brush their teeth regularly.
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Play brushing games
Another fun way to teach your child how to brush their teeth is to play brushing games. This can include making up songs or rhymes about brushing their teeth, using a timer to see how long they can brush, or using a toothbrush with a built-in timer to help them brush for the recommended two minutes.
By playing brushing games, your child will learn the importance of brushing their teeth thoroughly and will be more likely to do it regularly.
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Use a rewards chart
A rewards chart can be a great way to motivate your child to brush their teeth regularly. You can create a chart that has spaces for stickers or other rewards, and give your child a sticker or reward each time they brush their teeth properly. Over time, your child will learn that brushing their teeth regularly leads to rewards and will be more motivated to brush their teeth.
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Make brushing their teeth a family activity
Finally, one fun way to teach your child how to brush their teeth is to make it a family activity. This can include brushing your teeth together at the same time, sharing tips and techniques for brushing teeth properly, or even having a family brushing competition to see who can brush their teeth the longest or most thoroughly.
By making brushing your teeth a family activity, your child will learn that it's a normal and important part of daily life and will be more likely to develop good oral hygiene habits.
By incorporating these fun and engaging activities, you can make brushing their teeth a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for your child. This can help your child learn the importance of oral hygiene and will set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. And by making brushing their teeth fun, you can help your child develop good habits that will last a lifetime.