When children finally get to the age where they can handle cleaning their teeth on their own. The biggest issue is getting them to do it without nagging them or being there to supervise. While it might take some time and a fair bit of coaxing, it is possible for your children to clean their teeth on their own. All you have to do is help them through this stubborn phase. With regular praise, guidance, and motivation, your little ones will be brushing and flossing on their own in no time.
Get them their own teeth-cleaning kit
This can be especially effective if you have children they tend to argue over their toys. Most children like to have things that are specifically theirs and to have some sort of responsibility. To avoid arguments at bedtime and to make their oral hygiene a little bit more festive and fun, you can put together a teeth-cleaning kit for each of your children that is specifically theirs. All you need is a little wash-bag, a toothbrush, a roll of floss and a mini tube of toothpaste. That way, you can give them a kit filled with their favorite colors and characters and you can even give them a flavor of toothpaste they prefer. Now, there won’t be any grabbing for the toothpaste or worries about who used whose toothbrush. They each have their own to take special care of and use at bedtime. If you need professional help, you can always consult the dentists at Slim Dental in Rockefeller Center.
Get them a teeth-cleaning buddy
If your child doesn’t like cleaning their teeth on their own then consider getting them a teeth-cleaning buddy. In Japan, there are toys specifically designed to help children learn how to clean their teeth and they are pretty popular amongst children and parents, but that’s not to say that you need to get these special toys imported just to get your children to clean their teeth. All you need is a cute toy that has visible teeth and this will be your child’s teeth-cleaning buddy. To motivate your child to clean their teeth and to help them learn, your child can teach their teeth-cleaning buddy how to clean their teeth. If you want to buy their buddy a toothbrush of their own, then your child and their buddy can clean their teeth together, making that time a little less lonely for them and a little more fun.
Introduce them to their dentist
While your children might be having the occasional check-up with their dentist, there’s something about hearing advice from someone in a white coat that just makes it stick. If your children are being especially stubborn in their refusal to clean their teeth, book an appointment with your dentist to have a discussion. Providing your dentist specializes in working with children, they will be able to sit down with them and explain to them why it’s so important to clean their teeth. Your dentist will also be able to help with teaching them how to properly brush their teeth. Otherwise, your dentist may be able to help you uncover the reason why your children aren’t brushing their teeth. Perhaps they have an issue with anxiety and don’t feel brave enough to clean their teeth on their own. In which case, you may need to consult a specialist or a dentist that is experienced in dealing with phobias and anxious patients like Smile Cliniq, an award winning private dentist in London. With a bit of help and reassurance, your child’s confidence will build up and the earlier you tackle the problem, the less chance there will be of anxiety having long-term effects.