Dallas Moms Blog partnered with Jefferson Dental Clinics for a sponsored segment on EyeOpenerTV. In case you missed it, we’re providing this follow up post!
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but did you know that tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood illness in America? (I didn’t!) It’s even more prevalent than obesity. The good news: cavities are preventable.
But really, when it comes to getting kids to brush and floss their teeth, the struggle could not be more real. If I am being honest, I even snickered as I wrote out ‘floss their teeth.’ I am lucky if I can get my sweet but *ahem* strong willed two year old to keep her cute little mouth open long enough to get a brush in there, let alone floss!
Luckily though, there are tons of products out there to make dental care more fun and interesting for kids. I got some expert advice from Dr. Renee Townsend, the Regional Dental Director from Jefferson Dental Clinics.
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Make Brushing Fun With Fun Products
Parents can get their kids more interested in dental care by finding products that feature their favorite flavors, colors or characters. A good quality toothbrush is key! Many patients ask Dr. Townsend about the difference between manual and electric toothbrushes, but what is most important, is that kids are brushing all surfaces of their teeth for the recommended 2 minutes, every time.
Manual Toothbrush: Firefly Kids Light Up Timer Toothbrush, because it has a built‐in light‐up timer. The colors change from green to yellow to red like a stop light to signal how long to brush.
Electric toothbrush: A great electric option for older kids is the Oral B Pro Health for Me. It delivers a really thorough clean, but is gentler on smaller mouths.
Oral-B Disney Magic Timer App: Fellow contributor Cassidy shared this awesome (free) app a while back and it is favorite in our house, too! What’s cool is that it not only times how long a child brushes, but it reveals stickers in the app that kids can collect every time they brush.
Floss Picks: DenTek Fun Flossers in Wild Fruit flavor. Dr. Townsend likes these because they’re easier for small hands to grip, to floss hard to reach areas, particularly the back molars. They come in fun colors and shapes, and are very affordable.
Colgate 2-in-1 Toothpaste / Mouthwash: This combination toothpaste and mouthwash is widely available and in lots of great flavors and colors.
Fluoride Free: Younger brushers, especially those who are still swallowing more of their toothpaste than they are brushing with, should opt for a fluoride free toothpaste. Both Babyganics and The Honest Company are good options for a natural teeth cleaning formula.
Track Their Brushing Routine
One easy trick that parents can use to help track their child’s daily routine is a toothbrush chart (download this one from Jefferson Dental Clinic). Stickers are a great way to mark off daily progress, as kids brush in the morning and again at night. I don’t know about you, but my girls live for sticker charts. They love to track their own progress!
Monkey See – Monkey Brush
Kids learn by watching, so parents can set the example by demonstrating good dental routines at home. (I guess that means I need to start flossing as often as I tell my dentist I floss…)
Lastly, to keep tooth decay at bay, Dr. Townsend is a believer in The 2‐2‐2 Rule: Brush 2 times per day, floss 2 times per day and visit the dentist 2 times per year. It’s that simple.
To learn more about Jefferson Dental Clinics, as well dental care information for children and adults, visit their website, blog and Facebook page.
