Proper brushing of teeth is an important habit parents must teach their kids. Some kids, though, find that brushing is unnecessary, tiring, and unenjoyable. To help parents make every brush time a happy time for their kids, here are some creative tips from Hapee Kiddie, one of the leading toothpaste brands for children.
Add music to the mix
To make it more fun, parents are advised to sing their children’s favorite tune while cleaning their small teeth. They can also play their favorite music and invite them to dance to the beat or have them watch their favorite video, while brushing their teeth. When the song or video stops after two minutes, they should be done.
Play dentist with your child
There are kids who think that brushing aggressively for 10 seconds, instead of the standard two minutes, is enough. This happens when they were not taught how to properly brush their teeth. A creative solution to this is to grab their favorite toy, preferably one with visible plastic teeth. Grab a clean toothbrush and then pretend to bring this toy to the dentist for the first time. Mommies and daddies can pretend to brush its teeth, which they can later give the role of dentist to their child. This will allow them to use that same method for themselves.
Introduce a reward system
For parents who are struggling to get their kids motivated to brush their teeth, they can introduce a simple reward system. Every time they brush their teeth well for two minutes, give them a sticker or a star. Parents can get creative with the rewards, such as rewarding them to ice cream if they get five stars or give them a toy they’ve always wanted after getting 20 stars.
Have them pick their toothbrush and toothpaste
As they grow older, kids want to become more independent such as wanting to feed, bathe, and dress themselves. Use this eagerness for independence by having them pick their own toothbrush, whether it has their favorite characters, their favorite color, or even appealing features such as those that play music or flashlights. Just make sure that the toothbrush they pick has soft bristles.
Preschoolers, with their love for sweet flavors and cartoon characters, can now choose Hapee Kiddie which is perfect for kids two to five years old. They can choose from seven kid-citing flavors and two different packaging that feature their favorite characters from Disney’s Mickey and Friends and Frozen.
Make it a family activity
Just like how eating meals together as a family is a must, brushing together can be another ritual the whole family should do together. By brushing together, it shows the message that brushing is something that mommy and daddy do too.
Chesca and Doug Kramer, oral healthcare advocates of Hapee Kiddie, practice this with their three kids Kendra, Scarlett, and Gavin.
Have the right toothpaste
Children’s toothpaste must not only have the safe fluoride content for the child at their current age, it must also have something that would engage them. For children from four to 24 months, choose Hapee Baby with its baby-friendly formula that protects baby’s milk teeth from cavity. Hapee Kiddie toothpaste is formulated with the 1,000 PPM fluoride level recommended by dentists at this age. For kids ages 6 to 12, their fluoride and mint level get a boost while maintaining that same fruity kiwi flavor with Hapee Buddy toothpaste.