How to encourage a child to take care of their teeth?
Every parent wants their child to have healthy teeth, but convincing the child to take care of them systematically may seem quite a challenge. The child often does not want to brush his teeth. He treats this activity as an unpleasant duty that he would like to avoid at all costs.
How to encourage children to brush their teeth and make everyday dental care a pleasure? We invite you to read the article.
First: a good example
When it comes to caring for the teeth, the same rules apply as in any other aspect related to raising children - parents should act as an example of proper practices for the youngest by their behavior. If we want a child to read books, nothing can do that better than seeing their parents read.
How to encourage a child to brush their teeth? If we want to develop a good habit of taking care of oral hygiene in a child - the daily ritual of brushing the teeth should be introduced as soon as possible. The child should accompany the parents in the bathroom; observe how mum and dad brush their teeth and, of course, receive help from them while cleaning the milk teeth.
The sooner the better
Parents often ask when to start getting their child used to dental hygiene. The truth is, the sooner the better.
Expert advises
Even with toothless infants, it is perfect to use a rubber brush to play - so that they put it in their mouths many times a day and touch the gums and the palate with the rubber protrusions. This will make maneuvering something similar to a brush in the mouth feel comfortable and natural for children. Remember to keep the toy toothbrush clean at all times.
Brushing your teeth is fun
Usually, at first, the child does not want to brush their teeth. Is it possible to somehow disenchant this activity? How to encourage children to brush their teeth? Here, too, the same rule applies as in other educational processes. It is good to build a positive atmosphere around brushing your teeth: do it calmly and consistently, arouse children's interest and help them understand why it is being done. This will help us avoid a situation where the child does not want to brush their teeth.
How to encourage a 2-year-old child to brush their teeth? It is a very good idea to read illustrated fairy tales devoted to brushing teeth to your child. It is worth using colorful accessories:
- a nice brush;
- a cup;
- a tiny hourglass to measure the washing time.
All this will make the ritual of brushing your teeth a lot of fun and you will not have to wonder how to encourage a 2-year-old child to brush their teeth. With the right attitude, your little one will do it with pleasure.
Recommended products
Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child
A little bit of motivation and control
When, despite all efforts, the child still does not want to brush their teeth, you can try to introduce a reward system (e.g. with stickers) for proper tooth brushing, as well as a control system that will convince children to do it carefully.
Control through play!
A very interesting way to encourage 2-year-old and older children to brush their teeth is to cooperate with your child through play. For this purpose, liquid or tooth coloring tablets can be used. Applied after brushing, they will show whether the teeth are thoroughly washed and can be a form of entertainment for the child. Thanks to this approach, the child will no longer perceive brushing teeth as a boring duty, and the best gifts will be healthy teeth and permanent hygiene habits.
When teaching children new activities, it is important to remember that all changes and lessons should be implemented slowly and patiently. Your child may not want to brush their teeth at first. However, anger and over-control will never be a good teacher, they can only further discourage a child from taking care of their teeth. Accompanying a child in exploring the world is an adventure that parents remember with fondness for many years.
When is the first visit to the dentist?
An inseparable element of caring for the teeth is also a specialist dental check-up. When should you start thinking about the first visit to the dentist and most importantly - how to convince your child to visit the dentist?
Expert advises
The child's first visit to the dentist should take place between the 6th and 12th month of life, but it is really crucial to be in time before the first serious problems. It is also worth planning the time properly - the child should be refreshed and full. We do not recommend taking your child to the dentist after the day in kindergarten, because it will be cranky and tired, and the whole visit will not be a positive experience for him. Not only is it not a good method. Follow-up visits also have the advantage that if small carious lesions occur during regular meetings, their treatment is not painful.
Remember: an appointment with your child at the clinic should be arranged not when problems arise, but when the teeth are healthy and nothing hurts. In this way, the toddler gets to know the dentist from the good side, is interested in the office, tools, newly met person and her fascinating work.
How to convince a child to visit a dentist?
How we behave affects the little patient. Are you wondering what is the best way to convince your child to visit the dentist? When talking to him about the dentist or treatment, let's use positive phrases: "we will heal the teeth so that they are healthy and nice", "the dentist is very nice". Avoid messages such as: "do not be afraid, nothing will hurt". They cause unnecessary anxiety in the child.
When thinking how to convince your child to visit the dentist, remember not to "scare the dentist": "you will see how you eat so much sweets, your teeth will break and the dentist will extract them, and it hurts a lot". Positive methods - such as encouraging the consumption of fruit and vegetables - always seem to be more effective than generating anxiety in children.
First of all, prevention
It is enough to implement just a few simple rules to - not only avoid unpleasant dental treatment at the dentist, but also enjoy a beautiful and healthy smile. Here they are:
- Teeth should be washed at least in the morning and in the evening, using a properly selected toothpaste and with proper care;
- Don't go overboard with sweets, including sweetened drinks.
- It is also good to familiarize children with dental floss and make them aware of why the condition of the teeth is so important.
- Apart from these everyday, obvious habits remember to visit the dentist with your child for a review every six monthsto keep track of whether all teeth are healthy.
If we take care of both the hygiene of the teeth and the positive attitude of the toddler towards the dentist, we can be sure that in the future he will be able to show off a beautiful and healthy smile.
There is only one chance to make a first impression, so let's make sure that getting to know your child with the dentist takes place in the best possible circumstances. It will determine the future associations of our child with the dentist.
Author Barbara Obłoj - MD, PhD, dentist, expert of the Institute of Mother and Child, owner and medical director of the Center for Orthodontics and Implantology ODENT in Warsaw;
Consultation: ALicja Zawislak - MD, PhD, orthodontist, acting head of the Department of Maxillary Orthopedics and Orthodontics at the Institute of Mother and Child.
Medical consultation
