As anyone who has ever been in the presence of a toddler knows, they often have very busy schedules. The average toddler has activities outside of the home such as day-care. Your precious little one might also have activities such as gymnastics, football, ballet and art. Not to mention play dates with family friends or next door neighbours. Add to that, family events and activities, as well as daily tasks such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, bathed, eating breakfast, putting away their toys and playing with the family dog. Then it is very plain to see that they are extraordinarily busy creatures.
Forming a habit
However, there really is no better time to start looking after teeth than right this very moment. It is imperative to incorporate regular brushing into their morning routine. You can even have them gargle with mouthwash if you (and they) are feeling up to it. One of the most important ways to transfer this important habit onto your child is to lead by example. Have them sit with you in the bathroom while you brush your teeth, floss and rinse with mouthwash. Well, we hope you at the very least brush your own teeth. If you haven’t as yet, then now really is a great time to start!
You can begin by carving out time every morning and evening, perhaps as a part of their wake up and bedtime routines, where they go to the bathroom and begin brushing their teeth. This needn’t be a terrifying or boring experience. You can take them to the shops or go online and let them pick out their own tools. A suitable toothbrush with soft bristles and a toothpaste formulated for their age group, in a flavour they enjoy. Remember this is all about fostering a positive habit.
Troubleshooting
If your child dislikes the brushing process, try to find out whether they have a particular issue. For example, some children dislike the flavour of the widely available toothpastes or they may find the vibration or movement of some electric toothbrushes too strong at this stage. Buddies toothpaste and innovative toothbrush have been developed to help solve some of these issues and are available to buy from UK dentists or at https://buddiestoothpaste.com/shop/
If your toddler is a little confused of as to why they have to clean their teeth for 2 minutes twice per day without fail, explain the facts to them. We all need to brush away bacteria that feeds on food stuck in their teeth, which otherwise can cause cavities, bleeding gums, bad breath and even tooth loss. We need our grown up teeth to last our life time.
When to start
As always prevention is better than cure and children should ideally begin cleaning their teeth as soon as the first tooth has come out into their mouth. We hope that your toddler will soon be flashing their pearly whites for all to see.
All that we have left to say is: what are you waiting for?
