If you think you are too busy and never have time, try being a child again for a moment! As well as going to school, playing sport and doing a thousand other things, a child also has to learn to look after themselves and their personal hygiene.
One of the most important things to teach young children is to brush their teeth at least twice a day, for at least two minutes. With a little creativity you can turn your child into a dental hygiene fanatic! How? Here are a few practical tips!
Get help from a video or an app
To learn the basic technique for cleaning teeth, there is nothing better than a fun video like this one from the American Dental Association, or this little song about sparkling teeth, which lasts exactly two minutes, the time needed for a proper clean.
There are lots of them online, and there are also some very entertaining apps that teach children to brush their teeth through play.
Create a routine and always stick to it
Even if your child is tired after a long, busy day, or you are on holiday and your daily habits have changed, never forget to make sure they brush their teeth in the morning and before going to bed. Brushing their teeth must become a habit they can no longer do without.
Reward them when they brush well
What motivates your child? If they love stickers, for example, you could make a chart with the days of the week and let them add a sticker every time they brush their teeth. If they love reading, let them choose the bedtime story themselves.
Go shopping together
Let your child choose their own toothbrush and their favourite toothpaste. A toothbrush featuring their favourite cartoon character turns brushing into playtime. Fluoride toothpastes also come in lots of different flavours: respect their tastes!
Make it a family ritual
Children learn fastest by copying grown-ups. Brushing your teeth all together will bring plenty of smiles to the whole family!
