When you are a parent, health becomes such an important issue. You are concerned for your own health, as well as the health of your children. Sometimes it can feel like a constant battle to keep your kids healthy. The food they want to eat isn’t always the best for them and meal times can be a drag. Luckily kids like to be active most of the time, so it helps them to exercise and be healthy in that way. There are even some things that you didn’t even think would be a concern with children. But even things like getting them to clean their teeth can be a battle. So here are some of my ideas for helping the bedtime routine run a little more smoothly. As well as making brushing teeth a little easier.
For me, you have to make these kinds of things fun. Why do we tell them a ‘choo choo’ is coming to bring their food? So they laugh and then we can feed them! So to make brushing teeth easier, it is important to make it fun. It does need to start from a young age too. Then they should be in the habit and routine of brushing and taking care of their teeth. One way that makes brushing fun is if they are able to choose their toothbrush. In the early days, they won’t be able to understand. But after about 18 months, you could let it up to them to choose. Then they can’t say that they don’t like cars on their toothbrush if they chose it that way.
One other way that makes brushing fun is if you are there doing it along with them. When they see that it is a normal thing to do, it makes them much more likely to do it. It will help your dental care too! Getting them into a regular routine of seeing a Pediatric Dentist is important too. If the dentist is made out to be a big and scary thing, then they will become scared of it. If they see a dentist regularly and know what to expect, it won’t be scary for them at all.
Create a fun story around brushing teeth. You could talk about sugar bugs or tiny monsters that live on their teeth. The monsters make holes and then makes their teeth hurt. Then state that brushing your teeth stops this and makes your teeth feel good. You can just work it to fit the age and needs of your children. It just helps them to understand it all in more simple terms.
Above all, the most important thing to do is to praise your children when they do brush their teeth. If you are positive about it and encourage them, they are much more likely to enjoy the process. It can be hard to be positive when they are testing your patience. It is important to try, though. Otherwise, they will see it as a time to annoy mom and make her mad!
*Contributed Post
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