Toothbrushing

Getting into a good tooth brushing routine at a young age is vital for protecting your child’s teeth now and as they grow.

Things to try

After breakfast, take it in turns to have fun brushing teeth. Use a two-minute timer – an egg timer is fine; alternatively, there are a number of free apps that play music. Using a timer or music helps your child know how long to brush for: you could even dance along with the tunes.

To reinforce how important brushing is, try to join in, showing them how to do the right actions.  It won’t happen overnight, so go at their pace, praising them when they get it right. Things might be a bit messy at first, but once they get the hang of it, it’ll be fun for both of you. Repeat your new brushing routine first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

What they’ll learn

• Learning to hold and move the toothbrush and explore their mouth with it practices coordination skills, and helps them discover more about their bodies.
• A regular toothbrushing routine helps them develop self care skills.