Oral hygiene is very important. Brushing the teeth has the same value as bathing. Since we make sure to keep my daughter clean from head to toe, so that includes her teeth.
We started training her when she was an infant just so she gets used to it. We would use some cloth wipes and water to massage her gums. Eventually, we moved on to using a baby toothbrush for the teeth that were starting to come out.
We switched to a kid's toothbrush like Colgate Minions Kids 2-5 Years Old (Junior) Oral Care Pack when more and more teeth are visible. As her teeth appear, her patience to brushing slowly disappeared. Children can get bored and get restless easily so thinking of ways on how brushing her teeth and making her want to brush was vital if we wanted less fighting and still continue a healthy oral routine.
I resorted to singing and music. Singing, for kids is so much fun. We would sing the alphabet or whatever her favorite song is, while we brush. This is also a great trick to be able to time the brushing process. I loop the song if I'm not satisfied with the brushing yet.
Another trick that's very effective and is still related to music is playing games. Since we use songs while brushing, I let my daughter sing while her mouth is open so I can do deep brushing. She would sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" by singing "ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh..." in that tune. It's both fun for me and her because it sounds funny!
I also choose fun characters for her toothbrush and use kid's toothpaste. Nothing excites a child more than their favorite character.
Inject a lot of humor into it so it will become more enjoyable and such an experience for your child.
The last trick is letting her try to do it by herself. After I brush her teeth, I hand the toothbrush to her and let her do it by herself. Children love feeling independent. They enjoy a little sense of responsibility and as a new parent, it's also good to be able to teach while guiding your child.
After brushing, she gargles and spits and always gives me a big smile! This is how I know that the experience was fun for her and that she'd like to do it again.
I think of brushing her teeth as a time for us to bond and also for her to learn proper hygiene that she will use for the rest of her life. :)
Bright smiles from me and my daughter, Robyn! :D
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