Strategies for Winning the Battle of the Brush
You know the routine: all is quiet on the home front until a parent initiates the teeth-brushing advance. Alarms sound, children scatter and the fray ensues. What was once a happy home quickly becomes a perilous minefield of tantrums and mayhem. Are you doomed to repeat history every night, or could a preemptive strike avoid the conflict entirely? You need a battle plan and we have it.
Supplies
A well-equipped arsenal includes:
- A Child-sized Toothbrush
Children need a child-sized toothbrush, with a thick handle and a smaller head. The larger handle allows better control for their little hands and the smaller toothbrush head fits more easily and appropriately into their little mouths.  Always choose a brush with soft bristles and a rounded head. There are many fun character toothbrushes that just might disarm your little foes!
- Â Children’s Toothpaste
It is okay to use flavored toothpaste. While adults tend to prefer a minty paste, children might find it to be too strong. If your child’s toothpaste is ADA (American Dental Association) approved, it does not matter if your child uses a strawberry, bubble gum, or fruit punch flavor. If your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste, choose one with fluoride. Otherwise, you should use a toothpaste that does not have fluoride. Only use a pea-sized amount.
- Dental Floss
For the most part, all floss is created equal. Choose the floss that looks most appealing to your child and use it! Beware of mint-flavored floss if your child dislikes mint. Removing all barriers is key in keeping down oral-hygiene rebellion.
Tactics
Meet resistance with strategy:
- Use Correct Pressure
Brushing with the correct pressure will make the experience more pleasant for your children. Brushing too hard will not only damage gums and tooth enamel, but it will cause discomfort for your little one and bend the bristles of the toothbrush, rendering it ineffective. Light pressure and circular motions clean the teeth without torturing your captive child.
- Timing is Everything
Brush two times a day, in the morning and at night, for at least 2 minutes. Parents should help their kids brush their teeth and floss until they are 6 or 7 years old. By this age, children should be flossing every night to form good habits while they are young.
- Make it FUN!
It might seem counterintuitive that oral hygiene can be fun, but your strongest weapon is distraction. Set a timer for the two minutes that your children are brushing their teeth and you can sing a song or do a dance or read them a story. Another option is to brush your teeth with them. This way it becomes a family affair.
Victory
Finding yourself in the crosshairs of a tooth-brushing skirmish does not mean that you have to surrender. With the right equipment and tactics tailored to your own troops, you can emerge victorious.
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