Tips to teach children to brush their teeth and not die trying

It is vital to teach our children to brush their teeth as a good hygiene practice from an early age, from the beginning children must learn to brush their teeth. Although they will need our help at first, they will gradually understand how they achieve their independence.

If we do it with enthusiasm and put it on the to-do list before bed, they will definitely say “you have to brush” many times.

Traditional method of how to brush teeth for children

Brushing teeth can be an unpleasant experience for children (they consider it a sacrifice of their playing time), or a necessary and pleasant moment, which is a sign of autonomy. The autonomy of children is very familiar with the Montessori philosophy, which tries to use its games and different techniques to give full play to the ability of children to manage independently.

• First, they can think of it as a game in front of a mirror: it consists of sticking out the tongue, opening the mouth wide and using the brush on it without setting a time limit. It would be even better if I had to do this for a few minutes.
• Children will like to do things when they grow up, so we can remind them that brushing teeth is a trivial matter for adults and a gadget for adults. If brushing their teeth makes them feel great, not only won’t they resist, but they’ll be the ones asking for it after a meal.
• Even if mom and dad are around, they should let him try, even if he adds a little fluoride paste without being age-appropriate.
• We must explain to them how to do it correctly. We told them very patiently that the brush should be from top to bottom, and they should also brush their tongues. Although they will not follow the instructions in this letter at first, they will gradually learn to do so.

Montessori method to teach children to brush their teeth

• Prepare the space. It seems obvious, but not all children are within reach due to their height within their capacity. If you want to put toothbrushes and glasses in a “hidden” place to make the bathroom more tidy, you will have a beautiful bathroom, but your child will not find what he needs every time he needs to brush his teeth. Ideally, your child will find everything he needs at that time.
• Parents to guide. Children learn by observing, they are great observers. They need someone to tell them how to brush their teeth. You must be someone who teaches him to do this, taking advantage of the moment when you have to brush your teeth and doing it at the same time. You will be their best role model. And remember to perform each action in slow motion, so you can observe it well.
• A game that teaches them to brush their teeth. There are many activities to teach children to brush their teeth: drawings of teeth with arrows (indicating which way to move the toothbrush), toy teeth to practice with the toothbrush. All of these are very useful for children to learn about brushing.
• A routine program. The Montessori method is a faithful defender of conventional clocks. They help children to organize themselves and prevent parents from having to repeat it a thousand times. Nothing can teach your child when to brush his teeth like a routine chart.

Consequences of not teaching your children to brush their teeth

In general, we see in our children that poor oral hygiene can have disastrous consequences and bring unimaginable consequences for the general health of children. However, not only can poor hygiene lead to an emergency that requires you to take your child to a dental clinic, but the list of other related illnesses caused by poor hygiene and dental and gum conditions is also surprising. . According to my experience as a mother, in addition to research on the subject, I tell you what they are:

• Gum disease: Due to poor hygiene, it is the body’s response to bacterial deposits between the teeth and gums. If this plaque builds up, it can damage the tissues and bones in your mouth.
• Loss of teeth
• Bad breath: Food spoilage residues in the mouth and dirty tongue should be removed with a brush.
• Ulcers: Plaques that form in the space under the gums can become deposits of Helicobacter pylori, a symptomless bacterium that causes stomach ulcers. This bacterium can be transmitted orally.
• Diabetes: Dentists believe that diabetes is a risk factor for periodontitis, but it has now been shown that it can also be the other way around. In other words, poor dental health can also be a risk factor for insulin resistance.
• Joint and muscle injuries: It is scientifically proven that many joint and muscle injuries are the result of dental caries in the teeth.