It’s mid-July 2021 and what a rollercoaster year it has been so far! As we’ve come to the end of another school holidays, today I am reflecting on the one thing parents struggle with, and sometimes are embarrassed to ask me for advice on. How do I get my child to brush? It’s not uncommon for me to be met with that same question from parents when their children come in for dental visits.
“Dr Safinah, little Sarah doesn’t like to brush her teeth, can you tell her she needs to brush!”
I can guarantee that children don’t want their parents to nag at them day and night to brush their teeth, and parents would love for their child to just get on with it. Though I’ll be honest, getting most kids to brush (and brush effectively!) is a challenge. They are usually in a rush to get to school or are too exhausted at the end of the day and forget to brush before falling asleep. I can only imagine that this becomes exhausting for parents who then get super anxious when their children come in for their dental check-up. It’s like waiting in anticipation for their end of term school report!
Of course, I am sure that both parents and kids know the reasons why we brush our teeth. Especially since we are spending a lot of time at home where we’ve all probably been guilty of snacking and indulging in those sweet temptations, brushing is a must. We need to help children understand that keeping our teeth and gums healthy with brushing means that we can enjoy the foods we eat, not sound funny when we talk and smile confidently in our selfies!
Making effective brushing a daily habit and part of your child’s routine sets them up for the rest of their lives. When kids understand that taking care of their teeth means that they’ll help take care of you, it's a priceless life lesson.
So here are my top tips to get kids brushing:
- Choose your weapon
Why not let your child choose the toothbrush they want to use and make brushing an exciting daily activity. Toothbrushes comes in many colours, some have timers, some light-up and there are even electric toothbrushes available for babies!
- You must be the role model
It shocks me when I read that the latest data indicates 53% of Australian adults brush their teeth twice daily (Source: ADA Consumer Survey 2019), so we can’t expect our kids to brush their teeth twice a day when almost half of Australian adults only brush once. Children are great observers and they’ve been watching us from a very early age, so it is never too early to introduce them to brushing. Let young kids have a go at brushing themselves first before ensuring that you brush those hard-to-get spots. And if brushing is a struggle, why not take turns, give your child a go at brushing your teeth (!!!) so that they would let you brush theirs.
- Ensure it is part of your routine
Brushing must simply become a habit and remind kids that it only takes a total of 4 minutes out of their entire day. Keep the rules simple: brushing should be the first thing once you’re out of bed, and the last thing before bed. When this becomes your routine, you can’t imagine skipping it altogether.
- Get creative in front of the mirror
Brushing can be a fun family affair in front of the bathroom mirror. Play your favourite song of the week while brushing, or maybe have a competition between siblings where the first one to blink while brushing needs to tidy up the toys or wash the dishes.
- Incentives always help
Don’t kids always love negotiating with their parents? Positive reinforcement can help encourage the habit. Get a monthly toothbrushing chart on the fridge and if twice daily 2-minute brushing is checked off for the entire month, then little Sarah does deserve a reward (which should probably not be the sweet and sticky kind!) It’s a good idea to offer non-food related rewards like choosing what to watch for movie night for example.
Our ultimate goal is to motivate kids to take control of their oral health. As they grow older, they make more independent choices. Brushing shouldn’t be a chore to them and it shouldn’t be something they’d be told to do or are constantly reminded to do. In my opinion, at a certain age, children should be able to take ownership of their oral health and be proud of their smile by simply making brushing part of their daily routine.