Getting children to clean their teeth twice a day, every day can be a bit of a battle, but with these simple tips, teeth cleaning tantrums may be a thing of the past:

1. Start a daily oral hygiene regime at an early age: it’s beneficial to brush the teeth as soon as they start to erupt, so start off by brushing your baby’s teeth and then gradually let them learn to brush independently as they get older. Incorporate twice-daily brushing into the normal daily routine and they will soon get used to it, reducing the risk of frequent tantrums when they are asked to go and clean their teeth. Set a good example and brush along with them and try to reward and reinforce positive behaviour.
2. Teach children about the benefits of brushing: you’re much more likely to do something without any qualms if you understand why you’re doing it and what benefits this will bring you, so talk to your child about oral health and teach them why it’s important to brush their teeth. You can use online resources and books and your dentist will also be happy to answer questions to satisfy inquisitive minds.
3. Invest in some children’s oral hygiene products: many leading brands have developed children’s products in a bid to make teeth cleaning easy and fun. From electric toothbrushes adorned with pictures of film and TV characters, to flavoured, brightly coloured toothpaste, children’s products make brushing more appealing and they also contain the relevant ingredients to aid young teeth. If you have any questions about choosing children’s oral hygiene products, our dental team will be happy to help. We also recommend setting a timer or playing a song to make sure children brush for the recommended time and creating games related to oral health issues, to help children learn, while they are also having fun.