As a parent with two young children I’m fully aware how it can be difficult to brush their teeth well. I’ve gone through times where they refuse to open their mouth, biting on the toothbrush to throwing  a full blown tantrum.

Every child is unique and here are some tips that may help with brushing:

– Start to brush your baby’s gums at bath time even before teeth have come through. This can incorporate brushing as part of the daily routine.

– Start brushing your baby’s teeth with a small amount of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste as soon as teeth come through. The fluoride helps give added protection against tooth decay.

– Brush your child’s teeth for 2 minutes twice a day – once in the morning and once before bed.

– Use a small smear or pea sized amount of toothpaste as it is likely to be swallowed at a young age.

– Use a mirror so your child can easily see what they are doing.

– Supervise your child’s brushing until at least the age of 7 or 8 to ensure that they are brushing correctly and for the right amount of time. You may want to go over the teeth once they have finished.

– You may wish to use an egg timer or timing device for your child to know how long they are brushing for and this may make brush time more fun.

– Use of sticker charts can encourage children to brush regularly

Aquafresh have an app which my children love as you can see in the video. It’s great to encourage correct brushing and they are rewarded with stars with which they can dress up the nurdles.

Aquafresh Brushtime App Demonstrated By The Youngest Member of The Brightside Dental Team

Arrange a dental visit for your child at a young age – anytime from once teeth start coming through. This will get them used to the dental environment and more likely create a positive impression as they get older.

Ketan Shah