Every new phase in the baby years brings with it a new opportunity for growth and development. Although teething is nobody’s favourite, it does mean the start of little teeth that will help with eating and learning to talk! It’s also a reminder to prioritise your child’s dental hygiene - and it’s never too early to start.
Getting your little one into a dental hygiene routine early is really important for a number of reasons. These include:
🦷 Tooth development: With regular tooth cleaning, your baby’s milk teeth will come in strong and healthy which sets the stage for the development of their permanent teeth.
🦷 Preventing tooth decay: Regular tooth brushing will remove plaque and bacteria build-up on your child’s teeth, protecting them from cavities and decay.
🦷 Speech development: Healthy teeth actually contribute to your child’s speech development. That’s why good dental health can assist with speech clarity and pronunciation.
🦷 Healthy gums: It’s not just your child’s teeth that benefit, but their gums as well. Preventing plaque build-up on the gumline can protect against gingivitis and periodontitis.
🦷 Promoting overall health: Did you know that oral health has been linked to overall health? By encouraging your child to clean their teeth twice a day, you’re protecting them from heart disease.
🦷 Good nutrition and eating habits: If you have sore teeth, it’s difficult to eat – and it’s the same for little ones. A child with healthy teeth can chew and digest food properly, ensuring they have the right nutritional intake.
Knowing the importance of good dental hygiene in babies and toddlers is one thing, implementing it is another! The truth is the earlier you introduce tooth brushing into your child’s routine, the easier it is. How you introduce tooth brushing can make a big difference. With a bit of luck, your child will respond positively! Once they’re in the habit, then it becomes part of their daily routine and can help prevent toddler toothbrushing battles at bedtime.
Here are a few simple tips to get you started.
Tip 1: Start small
Even from the very early days, you can brush gums or those brand-new bunny teeth – but a traditional toothbrush might be too big and difficult to manipulate in your baby’s mouth. For babies with no, or just a few teeth, it’s often easiest to use your finger. Try out Little Weasel’s finger toothbrush and pair it with a baby-safe toothbrush or gel.
Tip 2: Make it a game
You know your child better than anyone and what games will get their attention. If they love music and dancing (which most children do!) then have a dance party while brushing their teeth. Or you could count each tooth as it’s brushed and do a little dance to celebrate.
Tip 3: Include it in bathtime
Children often love bathtime so you can casually introduce tooth brushing into the bathtime routine as part of cleaning the whole body. If bathtime brushing doesn’t suit your family, find another spot in your bedtime routine. This will help turn toothbrushing into a habit. Sometimes, when it’s subtly included – especially when it’s done early on – then your child doesn’t question or fight it.
Tip 4: Brush together
Learning by mimicking is an important part of growing up and it can help your child learn how to brush their teeth! Make brushing their teeth alongside you a fun bonding experience. This is a great way to show them how it’s done properly.
Tip 5: Use a timer
An important aspect of teeth cleaning is brushing for the right amount of time, and a great way to get your children into the habit of brushing for 2 minutes is by using a timer. This could be a traditional hourglass timer, or you could use a smartphone app with fun visuals.
Tip 7: Choose a fun toothbrush
One of the most important tips is getting the right toothbrush! You need an age-appropriate toothbrush that is fun, easy to use, and effective at cleaning all those little teeth. For older kids, give them a choice (do you want pink or green today?!). As your child shows interest in learning to self-brush, it’s important to pick the right toothbrush to facilitate that.
Little Weasel’s 360 Degree Training Toothbrush is the perfect toothbrush for new teeth and little hands. This silicone toothbrush has an easy-to-grip handle and stopper to prevent gagging with soft, 360-degree bristles to clean teeth and gums thoroughly. The suction cup base keeps the brush the right way up, and it’s strong enough to withstand all biting and chewing. From babies to more assertive toddlers, this is the best training toothbrush for young children.
Make this a fun and easy transition with Little Weasel’s fun, gentle and effective Baby Finger Toothbrush for the littlest ones, and Little Weasel’s 360 Degree Training Toothbrush as they grow older.
