The Seven Secrets of Tooth Brushing for Kids

Dr. Russell's Hints for Kids Tooth BrushingThe Luckiest Kids We See are the ones who have acquired a toothbrushing habit and have parents who have transmitted the attitude that it is fun and not an onerous chore.

ONE-The Family That Brushes Together...

Let the family gather and do this together for a while to show it as a natural thing that normal healthy people do.

TWO-Creating a Habit

Model the behavior you wish to encourage

Kids need to see that you brush your teeth.  You can even show that it is a pleasant activity you do every day.  Build regularity into tooth brushing and it will become the kind of habit you wish to pass on to your child

THREE-Brush AnyWhere.

Don’t confine brushing to the bathroom! Brush in the Hall, in the back yard, and brush every day.  Laugh and smile about it, snacks can be brushed away

 Kid are learning everything they know from you – where you lead they will follow. They don’t have to limited by your lack of imagination, though. 

FOUR-Omit Toothpaste if it Becomes an ”Issue”

Kids have better senses of taste and smell than older people. Tooth brushing is beneficial with plain water.  The mechanical action of the bristles can do wonders.  Experiment with fruity flavored pastes that are made for kids—milder.

FIVE-Don’t Use the Gauze

Using a face flannel or cotton swatch is just icky for most kids. Nobody likes “Cotton Mouth” it’s like putting a tampon between your lips.

SIX-No Bribes. No Threats.

Let the brushing be a low key natural extension of living and eating.

Never associate that the reason you brush teeth is to avoid cavities or going to the dentist.
Just as we don’t threaten kids with Bubonic Plague as a reason to take a Bath. .

SEVEN-TIMING

No need to be dogmatic but an egg timer is a fun thing to focus on or singing a song takes about the time necessary.

How about playing one of these tooth brush songs while the brushing is occurring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJde1IoW4_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Xwo4gbsmU

Toothbrushing songs

To the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Gently round your gums.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Brushing can be fun!!

Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Brush them every day.

The front, the sides, the back, the top

To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!

Floss, floss, floss your teeth

Floss without delay.

You need to do this every day

To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!

To the tune of “London Bridge”

This is the way we brush our teeth,

Brush our teeth, brush our teeth.

Gently, gently, round and round,

To keep them clean and sweet.

You will have a pretty smile,

Pretty smile, pretty smile.

You will have a pretty smile,

Because you brushed your teeth.

To the tune of “Jingle Bells”

I brush my teeth, I brush my teeth, morning noon and night.

I brush them, floss them, rinse them clean; I keep them nice and white.

I brush them once, I brush them twice; I brush them till they shine.

I always brush them round and round; those precious teeth of mine.

I eat good foods, I eat good foods, I give my teeth a treat.

I like to eat healthy foods like veggies, fruit, and meat.

If I eat sweets, if I eat sweets, I brush them right away

To keep my teeth shiny bright, and free from tooth decay.

To the tune of “Old MacDonald had a Farm”

All my friends have pretty smiles

Ee – i – ee – i – o.

They brush their teeth to keep them bright,

Ee – i – ee – i – o.

With a wiggle-jiggle here,

And a wiggle-jiggle there,

Here a wiggle, there a jiggle,

Everywhere a wiggle-jiggle

Oh what fun to brush our teeth,

Ee – i – ee – i - o.

To the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile

If you’re happy and you know it then your face is going to show it

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile.

When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE

When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE

When my teeth are clean I know it and I’m not afraid to show