Brushing teeth as a child: 10+ good habits for healthy teeth

Tooth brushing with little ones: how can we motivate our toddler?

As parents, we know that establishing good dental hygiene habits at a young age is important, but often not as easy as we would like!

Young children can neglect brushing their teeth for a number of reasons:

1. Lack of understanding: Young children may not understand the importance of regular brushing, especially if they are not regularly reminded or do not experience the consequences of neglecting their dental health.
2. Limited motor skills. Teeth brushing requires good coordination, which may not be fully developed in a young child. Toddlers may find brushing difficult or tiring, and may resist it.
3. Sensory sensitivity: Some children may have sensory sensitivities that make toothbrushing uncomfortable. They may not like the taste or texture of toothpaste, the feel of bristles on their teeth, or the feel of toothpaste foam in their mouth.
4. Resistance: It is common for young children to show resistance when they want to assert their independence and push boundaries. They may refuse to brush their teeth simply because they want to be in control of their own actions or because they feel that brushing their teeth is a task that they are being forced to do.
5. Lack of routine: brushing may not be a consistent part of your child's daily routine, making it easy for them to forget or neglect this activity, especially if they don't fully understand its importance!
6. They simply forget: Toddlers lives in the moment, and because brushing is not personally important to them at first, they simply forget about it.

Overcoming these challenges requires patience, consistency and positive reinforcement to make brushing a regular and enjoyable part of your child's daily routine.

Let's see what we can do as parents to help our toddler enjoy brushing their teeth!

1. Make brushing a fun activity! You can make brushing fun by singing a brushing song, using colourful toothbrushes and toothpaste, or letting your child choose his or her own toothbrush!
2. Set an example! Brush with your child to show them that brushing is part of everyone's daily routine.
3. Offer small incentives! Create a sticker sheet or other reward system that gives your child a small reward for consistent and effective brushing.
4. Use positive reinforcement! Praise and encourage your child's efforts by emphasising the importance of dental care.
5. Tell a story! Tell stories about brushing to make the activity more engaging and relatable for your child.

Teeth care as a teenager: why do teenagers neglect their dental care?

Most teenagers lead busy and active lives. Their hectic schedules and growing independence often mean that they become indifferent to routine activities such as brushing their teeth. Many attach little importance to daily dental care and take regular visits to the dentist lightly. As a result, many teens do not receive the dental care they need, and tooth decay is one of the most common diseases among them these days.

If you would like to give your teen some useful tips on how to strengthen their dental care routine, read on!

1. Eat healthy! Unhealthy snacking, such as sweets or high-sugar muesli bars, can lead to tooth and gum disease in your child. Try to offer healthy snacks such as apple, carrot or cucumber slices, as well as low-fat cheese and nuts. It's worth choosing fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of water, such as watermelons or cucumbers. Although teenagers tend to get hungry often, it is a good idea to brush their teeth after main meals and to avoid snacking between main meals altogether.
2. Avoid sticky foods! Avoid eating sticky foods such as raisins, dried figs or dates, muesli bars, peanut butter, caramel, honey, as they stick to the teeth and make it difficult for saliva to wash the sugar off the teeth. It is always a good idea to brush your teeth after eating sticky foods!
3. Drink plenty of water! Water can help clean bacteria and food particles from your teeth. Say no to fizzy, sugary sodas and juices and drink as much clean, non-carbonated water as possible to protect your teeth.
4. Brush your teeth during the day! It's a good idea for your child to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste in their school bag so that they can brush their teeth during the day, whether at school or before afternoon sports or other extra-curricular activities.
5. Don't miss a visit to the dentist! Young people should make time for regular visits to the dentist. A dentist can help you spot and treat minor problems early, before they become serious. In our busy daily lives, it can be easy to forget check-ups. So, it's a good idea to mark your diary at the beginning of each year with the dates of your planned visits.
6. Don't miss brushing your teeth in the evening! In their teens, children often forget to brush their teeth before bedtime. Brushing at night is very important as saliva production decreases at night, so there is nothing to wash away food particles and germs.
7. Take enough time to brush your teeth! Teens might be in a hurry all the time… But when it comes to toothbrushing, we can't stress thoroughness enough! If you don't brush long enough and thoroughly, it's almost like not brushing your teeth at all!
8. Clean the tongue too! Plaque can build up not only on the teeth and gums, but also on the tongue. This can not only cause bad breath, but can also lead to oral problems. Be careful to brush your tongue with a toothbrush every time you brush your teeth (Ayurveda stresses the importance of this too). If you are unsure how to clean your tongue properly, ask your dentist for advice.
9. Don't forget to floss your teeth! Many people, although they brush their teeth regularly, don't use floss. Flossing can help remove food debris stuck between your teeth, stimulate your gums and prevent inflammation.
10. Use mouthwash! Using antibacterial mouthwashes (e.g. herbal ones) can do a lot for the health of your teeth and gums! Mouthwashes are a great addition to your daily oral care routine.
11. Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if the bristles are worn out!
12. Choose your toothpaste well! Everyone swears by a different toothpaste, but it's worth to try something new every now and then! Herbal, fluoride-free toothpastes, for example, are a great choice for young and old alike!

If you are looking for a toothpaste that is different from the average, and it is important for you to use a fluoride free toothpaste, try Dabur Herbal Fluoride Free toothpastes, made with herbs widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for complete dental care!

Prefer a softer taste? Then Dabur Aloe Vera, Dabur Basil or Dabur Clove Organic toothpastes could be a good choice for you. These toothpastes are sure to please your little one as well with their pleasant taste!

Do you prefer bold flavours? Try Dabur Miswak or Dabur Blackseed toothpastes!

Looking for something out of the ordinary? Try Dabur Red toothpaste with its red colour and spicy taste!

And if you want whiter teeth, try Dabur Charcoal or Dabur Miswak Whitening toothpastes!

When it comes to brushing your teeth, remember that consistency is key!

We wish you and your child a pleasant dental care!

References: Dabur UK: Oral Health Care for Youngsters