Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease found in American children.  That’s a shocking statistic because in most cases, tooth decay is preventable.

You might think that the state of children’s teeth isn’t a big deal. After all, kids lose their baby teeth and replace them with adult teeth anyway. It’s not until their permanent teeth are in that the work really begins.

But that’s not true. Kids need to take care of their teeth – even when they don’t want to – because their approach to hygiene during childhood is not only important for their baby teeth but for how their mouth develops.

So, the state of kids’ teeth is important, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s not always easy to get kids to take care of their teeth.

Ways to get your kids to take care of their teeth

• Tell them what the toothbrush is doing. When kids know why they’re doing what you’re asking them to do, they’re likely to be more responsive to it.
• Let them pick their toothbrush and it makes it a fun activity you do together.
• Brush your teeth together.
• Use a timer game which allows a child something to focus on as well as how much time is remaining OR
• pick a song to brush along to while you dance, only stopping brushing when the song is done.
• Set up a brushing routine that is the same every day.