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Hi all
I have been hearing and reading quite alot recently about cleaning of our little one's choppers. Most of us find it is a very simple daily task with our young but read on, I may offer you a few pointers you had not considered.
As we
know, our babies first teeth pop up around the 6mth mark (give or take a few) and so this is the time that we need to think about how are going to take care of them. Obviously we can give them the toothbrush loaded with Colgate and leave them to it so, we have to find another way. Using a damp face washer, gently rub over the surface of the tooth and gums. This will clean away any bits and germs and will help relieve the pain of teething when rubbed over the gums.
Eventually you will be able to move onto using a super soft bristled toothbrush when your bubs gets a few more teeth. No toothpaste is needed yet so use water only. Again, gently scrub each surface of the tooth in a circular motion making sure each tooth is brushed. When your child is around the 2yrs (depending on advice from your dentist...they all say something different!) you may like to introduce some toothpaste to the brushing. A child-friendly type and brand is best and only using a very small amount, size of a pea is ideal.
This is of course the age group that will fight tooth and nail to brush their teeth themselves. Why not let them? If you think your little one can handle a few minutes of brushing then prepare the brush and see how they go. Most kids at this age love brushing independently. Infact you may find a battle when it comes to them finishing brushing! After a little while have a look at their teeth and see how they have done and then give them a brush over yourself to get the teeth they have missed including brushing their tongue (hoping they don't gag and vomit their breakfast!). One last cheesy smile in the mirror and you are all set!
I have had one happy brusher child and one very reluctant brusher. The last thing we want to do is chase our kids through the house 10minutes before we are due to leave the house, trying to get our kids to brush their teeth so what we need to do is make brushing a fun time. How?
*Let your child pick out their own toothbrush, no doubt it will be the expensive animal character ones but hey, whatever works. The same works for their toothpaste. Nothing like Shrek toothpaste!
*Line the whole family up for a big brush off, more fun than doing it on your own
*For the older kids, use some plaque chewable tablets so they can make their teeth red. Looks gross but boys especially like it. Then they can brush it all off and then inspect their handywork.
*It always helps to have a child step handy so they can see themselves in the mirror and you when you brush alongside them.
*Give them a cup to sip water to rinse their mouth and then spit it out. My daughter thinks thats the best bit!
*A good old star chart can work wonders on the 2-4 age group.
My daughter will brush her teeth all day if I let her. She loves piling the tooth paste onto the brush and having a good scrub and spit. Infact, I am even guilty of getting her to brush her teeth at the sink while I peel the vegies for dinner just so I can get it done in peace! My daughter may very well have the shiniest pearlers in SA.
When the brush begins to wear and the bristles have begun to separate, it is time for a new one. Leave a little amount of toothpaste in the tube and buy another for yourself leaving the other for your child to use. They love to squeeze the tube but will usually use too much so while they learn the right amount, a small remainder tube will work great.
Well that basically sums it up. Brushing can be made fun (depending on the mood of your child on any given day) or it can be a chore. Either way it must be done.
Brushes ahoy!!
(May 2007) (
