Parents know that sometimes, getting a toddler to cooperate is a challenge. From bedtime to potty training, there are many things your little one may not want to do. Unfortunately, getting to brush your child’s teeth at the same time without turning the process into a struggle can be one of those things.

Establishing good oral hygiene habits in toddlers is the key to maintaining good oral health as they age. Not only can good brushing habits started as a toddler keep cavities and gum disease at bay, but good oral hygiene can also improve a child’s overall health and wellness and decrease the risk of chronic medical conditions. Poor oral health in children can also lead to lower intellectual performance and learning problems.

So, how do you build a good brushing routine with your toddler without making it a never-ending struggle? Here’s how to get a toddler to brush their baby teeth.

Tips to Get Your Toddler to Brush Their Teeth

Encouraging toddlers to brush their teeth can be difficult. While necessary, the process is not as fun as stacking blocks, watching Ms. Rachel, or running through the house in nothing but training pants. However, there are steps that parents can take to make a toddler’s tooth brushing routine more fun and interactive.

Tips that parents can use to make brushing teeth and gums fun for toddlers include:

• Let Them Be Part of the Process – Nothing is fun when someone controls everything. Let your toddler be part of the process and give them options. Toothbrushes come in many fun colors, recognizable characters, and even lights. Choosing their brush helps make starting a proper oral health routine fun. The same goes for toothpaste and floss. If mint is too strong or medicinal to choose a toothbrush, let them pick a fun toothpaste flavor like bubblegum or strawberry. Child-safe floss picks come in bright colors and fun flavors like grape, cherry, and orange.
• Make It All Fun and Games – Make toothbrushing time fun by encouraging your toddler to play. Use their favorite song or music to time their toothbrushing routine. This method ensures that your toddler is brushing long enough and turns their oral health routine into a game.
• Use Positive Reinforcement—Honey cleans teeth better than vinegar. Use positive reinforcement to get your toddler to brush regularly. Offer generous praise or small treats like stickers, a new toothbrush, or five minutes of extra reading or snuggle when they stick to a good brushing routine.
• Do It Together – Toddlers and young children learn by example. They look to you to model their behavior, so brushing your teeth with your child can make brushing time more fun and productive.
• Stick to a Routine – Most toddlers thrive on having a routine. Deviating from a routine can be confusing and upsetting. Help make brushing time more enjoyable and predictable by sticking to a brushing schedule so your toddler knows what to expect. Brush and floss simultaneously every morning and evening, and make it a part of your child’s regular daily routine.

Why Is It Important to Teach Toddlers to Brush Their Teeth?

Brushing their teeth is a no-brainer for most adults—an automatic part of daily life. Still, it’s a key reminder of the importance of dental health in overall wellness. People frequently take for granted that to get to the point where it automatically becomes part of our daily routine, we had to have been taught by someone, like a parent, to prioritize our oral health.

Teaching your toddler the value of brushing and good oral health from a young age helps instill healthy, life-long oral hygiene habits. Habits built from a young age tend to stick with people as they grow, encouraging your child to prioritize healthy habits, regularly brushing and flossing their teeth as a teenager and adult.

Good hygiene habits don’t just protect young teeth from tooth decay, but also healthy gums, bad breath, and tooth loss. They also promote good overall health and decrease a person’s risk for certain chronic health conditions and cognitive decline. They also reduce lifetime dental costs by decreasing the chances that an individual will need expensive and invasive dental care to address tooth decay, disease, and oral health issues.

Schedule Your Toddler’s Next Dental Appointment Today

Do you know what else can help your toddler build better toothbrushing habits? Scheduling them for regular dental check-ups in New York. Our team is compassionate about helping you at Babylon Dental Care, and can help make brushing time more fun and productive for everyone!

Contact our office today by calling (631) 983-6665 to schedule a check-up, and let us help you reinforce good oral hygiene habits for the whole family.