Anybody out there have a child who just refuses to let you brush their teeth?
*Raises hand*
This is a nightly struggle at our house. Our daughter is much more interested in eating toothpaste than in letting us get a hold of those pearly whites, so we usually end up spending 15 minutes trying to trick her into letting us brush, brush, brush. Oh, the joys of parenthood…
That being said, it’s a battle the parent has to win, and it had me thinking: Are there ways to make this a more enjoyable process? Below are the top six ways we could think of.
1. Let your kids choose their own toothbrush.
Our daughter is a little young for this, but I imagine those toothbrushes adorned with Lightening McQueen or Doc McStuffins can really help a parent out. You can also choose from exciting features like sparkles, light-up functions, or musical options. Use this to your advantage.
2. Pick toothpaste and mouthwash with a good flavor.
You can always check with your dentist in cave creek, az(or wherever you are) on options. The better it tastes, the more they’ll want to brush.
3.Make it special.
Use a special stool, cup, or have a song that’s unique to tooth brushing. If you make it pleasant, your child will be more likely to not fight it.
4.Read bedtime stories about oral hygiene.
If your child knows that other kids enjoy brushing their teeth—like their favorite characters in a book read before bed—they will be more likely to be interesting in brushing their own.
5. Brush with them.
If you have fun doing it, they might be more encouraged to enjoy it themselves. In addition to seeing how much fun you have while brushing your teeth, it’s also a great time to bond.
6. Show them some tricks.
For example, colorful dental floss with a flavor they like more than mint (like cinnamon). You can also give an electric toothbrush a shot to see if this makes your child more excited.
While this is a daily routine that can really be a pain, there are a lot of ways to work around it. I look forward to the day my daughter is old enough to learn new things about everyday activities—like brushing her teeth—that make them more exciting.
In the beginning we made brushing our teeth a contest. Whomever brushed better got a ride on mount daddy. Picking interesting tooth brushes is nice just the first times they use them as they get bored really fast. It’s the activity we always focus on not the objects.