Regular teeth brushing helps remove the plaque and bacteria causing gum disease and decay. So it is important to get children into twice-daily cleaning as part of their regular routine – that way, they get into good habits early on.
Otherwise, a youngster may experience tooth decay, pain or discomfort, problems with speaking or eating, or issues with the development of their permanent teeth.
A government survey among three-year-olds showed that, in 2020, 11% had visible dental decay, affecting on average three teeth. Equally, nearly half (46%) of the UK’s children have already had a filling or a cavity thanks to tooth decay, while nearly three quarters (70%) of parents admit that getting their kids to brush regularly is stressful.
According to the NHS, children should be brushing their own teeth twice daily for two minutes a time from the age of around seven, with adult supervision to ensure it’s done properly and for long enough.
You can get a child to use a mirror, for example, and guide their hand while they’re brushing.
But if you have a reluctant young brusher in your household you’re not alone. There can be several reasons for it – from sensory issues to children’s natural urge not to do as they’re told. Sometimes, doing anything else seems more fun! However, if your kid complains that brushing hurts (and they’re not inventing this), a dentist’s appointment will rule out cavities or anything else which could be behind the discomfort.
So what can you do if your child does everything possible to wriggle out of teeth-cleaning sessions, dragging out the morning and bedtime routines? Here are our top tips:
- Brush teeth to music
It’s not in the rules that you must clean your teeth in silence! Play a favourite song to make the task seem less of a chore. Upbeat numbers work well – plus there’s the added benefit of ensuring kids spend the correct length of time on their teeth, since most songs will outlasted the recommended two minutes’ brushing time. Throw in a few silly faces or dance around.
- Make it rewarding
Sometimes, a little incentive can make all the difference. That could take the form of a sticker chart, which the child fills with gold stars each time they have squeaky-clean pearly whites. Or think of a (sugar-free) treat as a prize after successful twice-daily brushing for a month. Put a note on the bathroom mirror saying the all-seeing Tooth Fairy cannot make payments where teeth aren’t properly cleaned.
- Let them make choices
If children pick their own toothpaste and toothbrush, they’ll enjoy this responsibility – they’re also more likely to use something they’ve chosen themselves. There are plenty of child-friendly toothpaste flavours around, and brushes featuring popular cartoon or other characters.
Clearly, equipment needs to be age-appropriate, since little ones don’t have grown-ups’ dexterity.
- Brush with them
If nothing else works, try cleaning your teeth together. This shows you take the job seriously; equally, kids enjoy copying grown-ups’ actions. You may even find it a bonding experience.
- Get creative with game ideas
Kids usually adore playing games. So invent stories (toothbrush as a superhero slaying plaque monsters, for example), or get creative with other ideas. Use an egg timer or one on your phone. Oral-B has an app with a timer featuring a favourite Disney character voicing encouragement.
You could even convert the bathroom into a dentist’s surgery, making the kids stay outside in the ‘waiting room’ until they’re called in. You then become ‘the dentist’, inspecting their brushing.
Talk to us
Bounty Road Dental looks after oral health for the whole family – we’re conveniently located in Basingstoke town centre. We believe in great dental care and habits from a young age. Bring the kids in for regular children’s dental check-ups – and talk to us if you have a reluctant brusher on your hands.