How do I get my kids to brush their teeth?

By you setting the example and showing that this is something grown up and not so awful (even fun) to do, your children will follow your example.

If you are enthusiastic about brushing your teeth, your children will also be enthusiastic. Children want to do the things their parents do. If your children see you brushing your teeth and displaying good dental habits, they will copy.

There are a few quirky ways you can make cleaning teeth fun for your kids. For example you might use Plaque Disclosing Tablets/Solution when cleaning your teeth as a kind of competitive game.

Plaque Disclosing products (either in tablet or solution form) are used to make the plaque and food particles on your teeth change to a bright colour to make it more visible. These products are made of harmless vegetable dyes that stain the plaque a bright color, so that you can see where the plaque is.

Often children don’t understand why something that’s invisible needs you to brush your teeth. By making the problem something magically appear so that they can see why they need to brush their teeth gives them a reason they can understand for having to brush their teeth.

Setting you kids the aim of getting rid of every little bit of discoloured bit on their teeth, gives them a challenge to over come.

Starting the relationship between your children and dentist from a young age also helps. When your Dentist becomes another adult who will encourage them to brush their teeth they will pay greater attention to you too.

Your Dentist will also have other creative ways to get your kids into the healthy habit of tooth brushing.

What’s the best toothpaste for my kids to use?

Many modern toothpastes, and/or tooth polishes, however, can damage young teeth because they contain harsh abrasives for teeth whitening and these can wear away young tooth enamel.

When looking for a toothpaste for your children to use make sure to pick one that is formulated for children, contains fluoride and without whitening abrasives.

If you are concerned with fluoride consumption (and the white marks on the teeth/fluorosis it can cause), teach your children to spit out the toothpaste foam rather than swallowing it.

For very young children you can purchase toothpastes without fluoride and use very small quantities of the toothpaste. A ‘pea’ sized amount of toothpaste is often recommended when kids are very young.