Our little one loves cleaning her teeth. Maybe she was born with it we just got lucky. Maybe it’s our fault for being such awesome (aka persistent) parents. However, I’d like to share the blame with toothpaste manufacturers for making their product taste too good, she ends up sucking on it like candy.
Now I can’t claim to be the tooth whisperer, that belongs to the tooth fairy … or to the pedia, which you should consult first and foremost before reading some blog article on by some random person on the Internet.
For those who are still struggling to teach their little ones oral hygiene, here are some ideas that you may want to try:
1. Use a good toothbrush
Your growing child’s gums are very sensitive, especially during the developmental stages when they haven’t fully come out yet. Remember when your permanent teeth started coming out? It can be very painful, so it’s having the right tool should be top priority.
For babies who are teething, consider using extra soft toothbrush. They are usually more expensive, but it’s worth the price as the cheaper ones are often too rigid.
Alternatively, consider silicone variants such as this Baby Toothbrush from Colgate that’s currently being sold on Shopee. There are no bristles so you can gently introduce your child to the brushing experience without making it weird or off-putting. It acts as a teether and is made out of 100% Food Grade Silicone, so it’s completely safe.
2. Associate cleaning one’s teeth with having a good time
When Sunny was about a year old, we noticed that she was starting to imitate our actions. She seemed curious about everything and was always game to do the same things as we did, so we turned the bedtime routine into a little game.
We gave her her own toothbrush and told her to follow us as we were brushing our teeth. In the beginning we had to hold the brush for her, but gradually, she learned how to do the motion. Eventually, she was doing it on her own.
So, try to turn the routine into a game and having your little one mirror you while you brush your teeth.
3. Find the right toothpaste
Remember what I said at the beginning about toothpaste tasting too good? I wasn’t kidding. Our daughter learned how to say “tupays” (tooth paste) before she even learned the difference between the paste and the brush, so for a while all she said was “tupays” whenever she wanted to clean her teeth.
She would suck on that thing like candy and leave it in her mouth even when everyone else has already finished. This process has destroyed so many toothbrushes (remember tip #1?), especially when her teeth were fully developed.
I don’t blame her – it does taste good, and yes, it does taste like candy. Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t tried it!?
So if your child is resisting the process, consider switching the product until you find one that he or she likes. Look for age-appropriate toothpaste that don’t contain artificial chemicals like flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, and colors such as Colgate Kids Free – there’s a 0-2 year old formula and a 3-5 year old formula so you can switch when the time comes.
So there you have it – now you know how to clean your baby’s teeth! We hope you found these tips helpful in turning oral hygiene a fun activity rather than a chore!
Do you have any teeth-care tips for babies and toodlers? What for you are the best toothpaste or toothbrush for babies and toddlers? Share them in the comments section below!