Good Habits Start Early
One of the many wonderful things about watching your children grow is experiencing the ways in which they learn from you. You’re the most important thing in their lives right now. What you do and the way you do it really matters.
Tooth brushing is a good example. If they see you doing it and enjoying it, they’ll learn more quickly and come to enjoy it more quickly. Of course, as they get older they’ll want to do it themselves. While this is important to their development and independence, it is also very important for you to keep an eye on them as they brush to ensure that they’re doing a thorough job and to minimize swallowing of the toothpaste.
Teaching Them To Brush
You’ve made the effort to get your kids used to brushing regularly and properly, and now they want to do it for themselves. As soon as you feel the time is right, let them try brushing on their own. Just remember you’ll still have to supervise to ensure proper brushing and to minimize swallowing of the toothpaste.
Using a toothbrush like one of the Aquafresh® Kids Toothbrushes that has been specifically designed for children helps make effective brushing easier — for them and for you. The soft bristles and flexible neck ensure that those enthusiastic little hands do not damage the teeth and gums. The handle gives a comfortable grip and the suction feet on the Aquafresh® Kids Toothbrush make storage easy.
Here are few of the basics to share with your children:
Getting them to clean their teeth properly is a lot tougher than it sounds.
Practicing a little before putting the brush in the mouth can really help. When you’re brushing their teeth, tell them where you’re moving the toothbrush and that on the biting surfaces they need to brush in and out with short strokes. Then on the sides of their teeth they need to start at the gum line and sweep the toothbrush down to the tips of their teeth. When you’re done with the upper teeth on one side, move to the upper teeth on the other side and repeat the same technique. Then move on to the front teeth and sweep the teeth down, just like you did on the sides. Let them try, too, and be sure to congratulate them on a job well done.
The front, back and biting surfaces of the upper teeth should be thoroughly brushed.
Now repeat the same techniques on the lower teeth, brushing in and out over biting surfaces, then sweeping the brush upward. Do one side, then the other side, then the lower front teeth and back of the lower front teeth.
One of the best things about being little is that you learn tons of new things every day. Although your children may want to brush by themselves, it’s incredibly difficult for them to really do a good job until they are about 7 years old. So, when your younger children are finished brushing, you should brush the spots they tend to miss (think backs of teeth and the inside surfaces). If your child can spit, let him or her do so, but don’t rinse with water. That way, the fluoride can continue to protect their teeth.
If They Don’t Like Brushing
Of course, some children just don’t like brushing. Try cleaning your teeth at the same time — doing things together will get them inspired. Or better still, turn brushing into a game where you brush each other’s teeth.
Using the Tooth Fairy Photo activity or playing some of our brushing games can help motivate and inspire kids. Try them and make them into your own!
There’s a great range of activities for kids to explore in Nurdle World, the place where Milky, Lilly and Billy live, work and play and your child is always invited. We’ve created Nurdle World to give kids the chance to learn all about their teeth and how to look after them with the help of the Nurdles. It’s about having fun and learning good habits. They’ll soon be telling you how to care for your teeth!