5 tricks to get your kids to brush their teeth!

Are you having trouble getting your children into the habit of following a consistent oral health regime such as brushing and flossing?

At Kitchener Street Dental in Toowoomba, Queensland, we know that as a parent it can be difficult to get your child excited about good oral hygiene, which is why we have provided some useful tips to help make the process of brushing and flossing fun for your kids. By making their daily oral health routine fun and engaging this can help instill healthy oral habits for the long term.

Be a good role model
As a parent, it is important to lead by example when it comes to influencing good behavior for your children. By showing your child that the process of brushing and flossing is fun, your child will in turn see it as an exciting exercise rather than a chore. If you make it look like fun, the kids will want to do it too, it’s really that simple. An electric toothbrush is a great way for your child to engage with brushing and can be more entertaining for them. Let your child brush your teeth and then you can brush theirs to make sure they’re actually clean.

Give them a good story
Give your child a good reason to brush their teeth! For example, explain that naughty sugar bugs make holes in their teeth and that the toothbrush is the hero in the story.

Show them the plaque
Showing your child the evidence is a great way to prove your story! Place a disclosing tablet in their mouth which shows where the plaque is to prove that brushing makes a difference.

Brush like train wheels
Try linking the brushing technique to something they are familiar with can also be a good way to make the process fun for your children. For example, when teaching your child how to brush in a circular motion, explain it to them by saying to brush their teeth like the wheels of a choo choo train (big circles in a massaging stroke – round and round instead of back and forth or scrubbing)
to get them to learn the proper brushing technique.

Make bubbles while brushing
Encourage them to create bubbles when they brush their teeth as this indicates that they are brushing correctly and using their toothpaste in and around their teeth and gums.

Making oral care fun at Kitchener Street Dental  

At Kitchener Street Dental in Toowoomba, Queensland we understand that the idea of visiting the dentist for some kids may be a little daunting. However, we understand this concern which is why we provide a comfortable, fun and engaging experience for your child during their dental checkup and clean. We not only make their visit educational but do so in a manner that makes them excited to learn more about their teeth, gums and smile.
To help your child receive the dental treatment they need (and to ease the cost of dental treatments) we are proud to support the Child Dental Benefits Schedule which allows eligible children between the ages of 2 – 17 receive $1000 of Medicare-funded dental treatments. The following general dental services:

• Teeth cleaning
• X-rays
• Fillings
• Fissure seals
• Extractions
• Root canal treatment
• Partial dentures

To learn more about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule click here.

When was your child’s last checkup?

When was the last time your child’s visited us for their regular clean and checkup? If it has been longer than 6 months, please book your child’s dental visit to keep their oral health in top condition.