Tips on how to make teeth brushing with your toddler a breeze.
It is recommended by The American Academy of Family Physicians that parents wipe down their baby’s gums with a soft, wet cloth after each feeding and to start brushing the teeth once they pop through the gums. Once brushing is started parents should brush this child’s teeth at least twice a day, after the first and last meals of the day.
Here some important things to keep in mind while brushing your child’s teeth:
- · If you toddler wants to wiggle away while you are brushing his or her teeth, try standing behind them and leaning their head against your stomach. It is a more difficult position for them to run away and it is more natural for you too since this is a similar position that you use to brush your own teeth.
- · Some parents find it helpful to brush their toddler’s teeth in the bathtub. It is harder from them to get away when they are confined to the tub.
- · Give your toddler a flashlight to shine in his or her mouth while you are brushing their teeth. It will give them something to do and will help you see what you are doing.
- · In order to teach your toddler how important it is to thoroughly brush their teeth, use a timer, a stopwatch or a song to time each tooth-brushing session. Preferably, each session should last two minutes or more.
- · Sometimes toddlers will insist on brushing their own teeth. It is not recommended you let them go solo until they are at least six, so try taking turns. He or she brushes, then you brush. It might help if you let your toddler help you brush your teeth too. It might seem a bit strange at first but it is good practice for them.
- · If your toddler is resisting tooth brushing at night time try giving some choices: what color of toothbrush (try to have a couple of different ones on hand for this reason), what flavour of toothpaste and if they want to brush before or after bedtime stories are read.
- · Make sure your toddler’s toothbrush is rinsed out really well before putting it away so bacteria does not grow. Also make sure the toothbrush is replaced at least twice a year, more if the bristles are looking flat and worn.
- · Don’t let your child run with their toothbrush. It could cause serious damage if they fall.
- · Start flossing with your toddler early, preferably once a day. Also try to scrub some of the bacteria that might be living on their tongues off.
The copyright of the article Brushing Basics in Infant & Toddler Health is owned by Tanya Campbell. Permission to republish Brushing Basics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
