It’s the month to celebrate love, so why not celebrate our teeth? When it comes to ingraining the importance of oral health for children, parents can focus on 3 areas to establish healthy habits that will last a lifetime: make it fun, teach them why it matters, and develop a routine.
Make it fun!
Let them choose their toothbrush. Whether you are getting an electric toothbrush or a manual one, letting kids pick their own toothbrush that has their favorite color or cartoon character on it will help get them excited to brush their teeth.
Choose a fun flavor of toothpaste. Further excite your child about brushing by letting them pick a toothpaste with a fun flavor. From traditional flavors like strawberry or watermelon, there are also new exotic flavor options like orange cream and cantaloupe. Just make sure the toothpaste has fluoride in it, which helps protect against bacteria and acids.
Play music. You can brush to their favorite song or artist to add some fun to the brushing routine. Or find songs online that are made for children to brush along with; they not only add fun and guidance but keep your child brushing for the recommended two minutes each session.
Brush together. While your child is brushing, why not brush your teeth, too? Show them how you protect your own teeth with proper brushing techniques.
Offer rewards. When your child brushes correctly, for the right amount of time, without complaining, or whatever behavior you want to encourage, offer them a reward as an incentive. It can be small like a sticker or extra playtime, or contribute to points that add up to a larger prize like going out for ice cream, to a special park, etc.
Teach them why brushing and flossing matter
Read books about brushing teeth. Add books about healthy teeth and why brushing matters to your reading routine. Many are available at local libraries.
o The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
o My First Visit to the Dentist by Eve Marleau
o The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
o Brush, Brush, Brush! by Alicia Padron
o Sugarbug Doug: All About Cavities, Plaque, and Teeth by Dr. Ben Magleby
o For young children who are afraid of the dentist (Free for Kindle!): A Visit to the Dentist Can be Fun, by Janaina Resende Ferreira de Faria (available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Portuguese).
o For caregivers: Your Child’s Teeth by Evelina Weidman Sterling and Angie Best-Boss
o For educators and public health advocates: Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America
Watch videos.
o Native American Tooth Fairy
o Catch the Nasties (Colgate)
o What Causes Cavities? (Mel Rosenberg)
o What Causes Bad Breath? (Mel Rosenberg)
o Life Stages of Oral Health: Ages 13-19 Teen Teeth (Delta Dental of Arizona)
o 10 Ways to Brush Your Teeth (Life Hacks)
o Vaping Risks - What Vaping Can Do to Your Mouth (Dr. Joseph Nemeth, Periodontist)
o What Snus (Smokeless Tobacco) Can Do to Your Gums (Dr. Joseph Nemeth, Periodontist)
o Braces Care Routine (Teeth Talk Girl)
o Just for fun (Teeth Talk Girl)
o For Children with Special Needs: What Happens at the Dentist Office (Boston Children’s Hospital)
Activities for brushing and flossing.
Conduct a science experiment simulating tooth enamel using hard boiled eggs. Check out this example from Pre-K Pages that is easy to adapt for older children too.
Make your own toothpaste:
4 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Flavoring (such as peppermint extract)
Mix and store in an airtight container.
Extra fun: name your toothpaste and create a label for the container.
Kids can practice their flossing technique using Lego/Duplo blocks, egg cartons, or ice cube trays. Stick Play-Doh between and around the base of “teeth” and give the children floss to remove it. Stress the importance of flossing not only to remove food from between the teeth but also to remove plaque below the gum line to prevent the buildup of tartar. Click here for more information about proper flossing technique.
Marshmallow Mouth. This fun craft is more than a silly tooth-themed project. Use it to teach children proper flossing technique. Download the easy instructions here. (Adapt this activity for younger kids.)
Note from the Tooth Fairy. Write your child a note from the “Tooth Fairy” to encourage good brushing or flossing practices. The Tooth Fairy can remind them why they only leave money or presents for healthy teeth.
Make it a routine
Set a good example. When your children see you brush and floss twice a day, every day, it will help them build these activities into their own routines.
Establish a routine. Whether you have them brush right after dinner or right before bedtime, establishing a routine where kids brush at the same time or in the same order every day will help them anticipate when and how to take care of their teeth.
Eat healthy foods. Incorporate lots of fruit and vegetables in meals and during snack times to help clean teeth and keep them healthy from the inside out. Fruits like apples and pears, and vegetables like celery and carrots, naturally help scrub teeth by stimulating saliva production and washing away plaque and bacteria.
Drink lots of water and minimize sugary drinks.
Regular dental checkups. Visiting the dentist twice each year for check-ups and cleanings to keep teeth looking and functioning properly. It also prevents problems like bad breath or a sore tooth from getting worse and turning into infections.
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