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Tooth decay is currently one of the most common chronic diseases effecting children ages 6 to 12 and teens ages 12 to 19. In fact tooth decay is five more prevalent than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
While these statistics are unsettling, there are several ways to develop strong brushing and oral care habits for your kids. Brush better, feel better, live better.
Brush with your Kids
Children learn by example, stand side-by-side in front of the bathroom mirror and brush together. Have fun and make a game out of it, literally play “monkey-see-monkey-do.” Have your child mimic your exact brushing technique. This also gives you an opportunity to improve your brushing, Colgate recommends brushing for at least 120 seconds, when was the last time you brushed for 2 minutes?
Cute Toothbrushes
Fun toothbrushes are in stores everywhere. Is your child a fan of Spiderman? Then get them a fun Spiderman themed toothbrush. Every time a new children’s movie is released they are bound to release toothbrush based off the film. Be sure that the toothbrush is small enough to fit in your child’s hand and replace the toothbrush every 2-3 months.
Count Aloud as You Brush
Brush each tooth individually and count aloud as you finish. “Tooth number one is all clean! Tooth number two is done! Here comes tooth number three. ” This is fun for your child and is also a great way to practice counting!
Have a Sticker Poster
Have two sections on a construction paper poster, one for the morning and one for the night. Each time your child has had a thorough brushing; he or she can choose a sticker and put it on the poster. It’s good encouragement to see the stickers build up over time!
For tips on getting your children to floss read our post here
