How do I Get my Child to Brush His Teeth?

Sure, you know the drill – make your kids begin to brush their teeth as soon as  they have a few of their baby teeth, introduce them to flossing etc. etc. but what do you do when your kids aren’t as interested in their dental hygiene as you are?

The important thing to remember when you have a recalcitrant kid who's stubborn about not brushing his teeth, is to simplify your language when you teach him the ABC's of good dental hygiene. A long lecture on bacterial action on the teeth may work for older kids, but the below six generation are not going to care much about creepy crawlies in their mouth they can't see. 

If your child is below five, then the best way to inculcate good brushing habits is through entertainment.  You could start by getting him fun playful toothbrushes with animal-shaped handles. Make brushing time fun time –play his fave music. You could also try fun and tasty toothpaste flavors that are especially made for kids. Try to get the little one involved inn choosing and buying the toothpaste.  Look for one with fancy packaging.

Kids above five are more self centered and choosy. This is why you must involve them in the process. Choose fun Barney CDs, play these and make the entire brushing process a fun game. You could also use fancy electric toothbrushes. Kids tend to love these, although they can be more expensive.

For a child who's ten or above, Barney CD'S and fun flavored sparkly toothpaste are a waste – you don't have a hope in hell of impressing him with these.  You can however, make your child brush by telling him that the girls won’t talk to him if he has bad teeth, or that people won't want to be friends with him if he has rotting teeth and bad breath... Remember that you are now dealing with young men and women who are getting interested in the opposite sex, and these kinds of scenarios can be terrifying enough to make them reach for that brush and give those pearly whites a good scrubbing!

At the end of the day, try not to be too neurotic about kids and oral hygiene.  Most kids eventually grow into taking care of themselves, which includes taking care of their teeth.  They have the rest of their lives to feel self conscious about their smiles and their breath, so when they are still kids, go easy on them!