Whitehall Children’s Dentist Offers Tips for Bedtime Brushing

Time. For. Bed. The three most disliked words in a child’s vocabulary. Is there anything you can do to make bed time smoother? Yes, say the experts. First and foremost, stick to a routine and that includes nightly brushing and flossing, too. To make bed time easier and to ensure your children go to bed with clean teeth, Whitehall children’s dentist Dr. Marcela Mujica offers the following tips.

Routine, Routine, Repeat

Children thrive on the consistency of a routine. Therefore, establish and nightly bed time routine when they’re young and make sure to include tooth brushing and flossing. Give children what they expect and they’re less likely to resist. Skip a step in the routine and you and your child might suffer the consequences.

Avoid Changing the Time of the Routine

Just as important as the nightly routine itself is that it happens at the same time every night. When bed time is later than usual then your son or daughter may be too tired to endure the hassle of brushing their teeth. And if bedtime is too early then they may not be able to settle down.

This or That?

Whether or not they brush their teeth is not a choice. That’s a must. However, there are decisions your children can make that will let them feel some sense of control. For example, you can let children decide which flavor of toothpaste to use each night. And for a real change of pace, let them choose which bathroom to brush in.

Chart Their Progress

In addition to being told their doing well, children like to see their progress, too. Draw a teeth brushing and flossing chart or download one online. Then, let your kids place stickers on the chart after they’ve brushed and flossed their teeth for the night. Once there are a certain amount of stickers, they can receive a reward such as a small toy, a new toothbrush or a package of Xylitol sweetened chewing gum.

Family Fun

There’s no reason not to brush and floss your teeth right along with your children—even if you are planning to stay up and have a snack. Have a race to see who can brush their teeth the longest. When you stop after two minutes, your child wins the race and you’ve just gotten them to brush for two minutes or a bit longer.

Call Our Office Today

For more tooth brushing and flossing tips from Whitehall children’s dentist Dr. Mujica, contact All Kids Pediatric Dentistry.