How to get your kids to brush their teeth

If there are toddlers in your household, chances are you utter this command every day, perhaps multiple times, quite possibly at a high volume.

“Brush your teeth!”

Fostering good dental habits in children is a parent’s job, and the stakes are high.

“Start with very positive attitude and engaging the kids early,” said Dr. Keith Libou, chief clinical officer at Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut. “A lot of people have their attitude about dentistry come from when they were a kid. This is the absolute most important thing that could happen.”

Here are Libou’s five tips toward making that happen.

Afraid of the dentist? Here's some advice

1. Start visiting the dentist early

Like many of a certain age, Libou first visited the dentist at age 5. The recommended age for a first visit has dropped considerably since then.

“Two used to be the age we recommended first seeing the dentist,” Libou said. “That’s changed in the last few years. We say one is the new two.”

Why one? It’s mostly about creating a comfort zone for the child. But there is a practical side too.

“At one, there are teeth that are coming in early,” Libou said. “Mom and dad can learn how to clean their teeth with a swab or cotton ball.”

2. Find a fun toothbrush

Adults view toothbrushes as a functional tool. Kids might see it differently.

“One way to get them motivated to pick up the toothbrush — let the kids pick theirs out,” Libou said. “They might find some ownership with it.”

Some children prefer electric toothbrushes. Flip a switch and it buzzes, vibrates or whirls.

“The electric toothbrushes are great,” Libou said. “It’s a question of working your way up to it. Get them used to brushing with a regular toothbrush, and once that’s gone over well, you can try an electric toothbrush on the lowest settings, as low as they can go.”

Related:

What would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth for a year?

Toddler dies after routine trip to the dentist

4-year-old suffers brain damage after dentist visit

3. Brush lightly

There’s good advice here for kids and adults alike.

“The biggest mistake people make with toothbrushes is putting way too much pressure on them,” Libou said. “It all about letting the toothbrush do the work. It’s not about putting your elbow into it or pushing on it until the bristles get in there.”

A common mistake young kids make is pushing huge gobs of toothpaste onto their brushes.

“Use a tiny dab,” Libou said. “We say less is more, especially for the little kids. Toothpaste does have fluoride; you don’t want them swallowing it.”

4. Drink water

Libou said brushing twice a day, in the morning and at night, is about right for kids. Drinking water is a good supplemental measure to help maintain oral hygiene.

“Water is a great thing for them to drink during the day instead of fruit juices,” Libou said. “Not only is it real effective rinsing out any debris in the teeth, it can also neutralize some of the stuff going on in the mouth.”

Milk is OK, too, he said.

5. Never too young to floss

On the surface, flossing doesn’t seem suited for kids. It takes careful manipulation, and the possibility of drawing blood is high. But that doesn’t make it any less useful.

“If somebody teaches them how to do it properly, it’s a good thing to do,” Libou said. “The most important thing is to be taught in a way that is not traumatic. It’s easy to cut the gums. It might take kids a while to get the dexterity, to be able to manipulate the floss.”

Bottom line, like everything else involving a child’s dental care, the approach is most important.

“The key is to make it a positive experience,” Libou said. “Set a tone that’s going to benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

Follow Jerry Carino on Twitter: @njhoopshaven