Dental Health for Preschoolers
When your baby’s first teeth surface, so do the oohs and aahs of excited parents celebrating another milestone. However, with great cuteness comes great responsibility. You should start caring for your baby’s dental hygiene as soon as their teeth come through. Dental health in preschoolers helps to instil healthy habits and prevent tooth decay.
Don’t worry if you’re met with resistance when brushing your toddler’s teeth. Most babies and toddlers don’t love having their teeth brushed. It may feel like you’re battling a small yet fierce creature, but there are fun ways to teach preschoolers about brushing their teeth. By 3 years old, most children have all 20 of their baby teeth. When it comes to dental health for preschoolers, the rule should be to brush your teeth twice a day, morning and night.
Use a low-fluoride toothpaste from 18 months of age and an age-appropriate toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. It helps to stick to a routine, where your child knows what to expect and can get used to it. Gently brush in back and forth vibrating movements for two minutes and encourage your little one to spit and rinse their mouths after brushing.
Tips for Brushing Your Child’s Teeth:
Make it Fun: If you’re anxiously approaching your little one with a toothbrush, they pick up on it. Stay calm and don’t lose your cool when they start to protest. Remember, a toddler’s favourite word is “no” and they love to stand their ground. Sing songs together, chase germs out of their mouth, and pretend play by asking them what they ate and telling them you’re brushing it away. Check out this family-friendly Tooth Brushing Songs Playlist!
Brush Teeth Together: As parents, we deal with “toddler see, toddler do” all the time. When it comes to brushing your toddler’s teeth, use this to your advantage. Lead by example and brush your teeth at the same time. Let them stand on a chair next to you and show them how you’re doing it. You can even let them brush your teeth before you brush theirs, turning into a game where you’re both helping each other.
Get Toys and Teddies Involved: Children love caring for their soft toys and playing with figurines or dolls. In the same way, your child does what you do, they also want their toys to do what they do. When encouraging dental health in toddlers, bring a second toothbrush and let them brush their favourite toy’s teeth. Once they are done brushing their toy’s teeth, celebrate with them and let them have their turn. This is a great way to ensure good dental health in preschoolers!
Go Toothbrush Shopping Together: Embark on a toothbrush shopping spree with your little one. You can buy a few toothbrushes and even let your little one select their toothpaste, giving them a sense of involvement and responsibility. Children usually enjoy brushing their teeth with toothbrushes featuring character prints and fun colours. Little things like this go a long way in encouraging good dental health in preschoolers.
Here’s to a future of big, happy smiles and pearly white teeth! Persevere and stay on track with your toddler or child’s dental hygiene. It will pay off in the long run!