It’s common for young children to protest against tooth-brushing, often by clamping their jaws shut and refusing to let their parents come near them with the dreaded toothbrush. Parents may wonder why, My Kid Hates Brushing Their Teeth. However, understanding the situation from the child’s perspective and identifying the reasons for resistance can help parents overcome the obstacle and ensure their kids practice good dental hygiene.

Ask Your Kid Why They Hate Brushing Their Teeth

Parents can help their children express any issues they have with toothbrushing by avoiding leading questions such as, “Do you feel pain when you brush your teeth?”

Use open-ended questions to encourage your child to express themselves. For example, you could ask, “How do your teeth feel when you brush them?” To help your child understand the question, you may want to point to different areas of the mouth such as the teeth, gums, or tongue.

Some children may require more gentle brushing techniques due to sensitivity in their mouths. It may be helpful to encourage your child to communicate any concerns they have regarding their oral care, as it may increase their willingness to participate in future care.

Explaining the importance of brushing teeth

When it comes to answering questions, using “because I said so” may not always be effective, especially for encouraging young children to brush their teeth. Providing an explanation for the importance of dental hygiene may be more helpful.

There are various methods to educate children on the significance of oral care, such as utilizing kid-friendly YouTube videos or age-appropriate language to explain the consequences of neglecting teeth brushing.

Possible Sensory Issues

Children may experience sensory difficulties when it comes to brushing their teeth, regardless of whether they have typical or atypical neurology. The texture of toothbrush bristles and dental floss can be vastly different from anything they usually encounter in their mouths, which may cause feelings of discomfort or distress.

When discussing dental hygiene with your child, it may be helpful to address any issues with sensory overload. For children with hypersensitivity, using numbing gel can alleviate any discomfort during brushing. For children seeking more sensory engagement, you can involve them in the process by asking if they want to bite on the toothbrush in between brushing different areas of their mouth.

Make Dental Hygiene Fun

Children may demonstrate resistance to brushing their teeth as a means of asserting their independence. Therefore, it is advisable to provide them with a variety of dental hygiene choices whenever possible.

There is only one available option for routine dental cleanings, but your child has the ability to choose their preferred toothbrush, toothpaste flavor, and dental floss style to add some diversity to their dental care.

Washington Parent Provided a list of some fun ways:

• Make it a game of hide-and-seek by pretending to find food still hiding in your child’s mouth. “Oh, I see those carrots back there. Is that you, hamburger? Come out, broccoli!”
• Brush side-by-side with your child and compare your foamy smiles in the mirror.
• Pretend to forget what you’re supposed to be brushing and ham it up as you “brush” their nose or ear by mistake. “Wait — something is wrong here. Is this where we brush?”
• Take their mind off their mouth by reciting a nonsense limerick, singing a goofy song, or telling a wacky story.

Brush Your Teeth as a Family

Demonstrating good dental hygiene through role modeling can effectively encourage young children to brush their teeth. As children tend to learn and mimic behaviors through example, brushing your teeth as a family can be a successful strategy in motivating your child to brush their teeth without resistance.

Brushing your teeth earlier in the evening can be helpful in establishing a routine. Additionally, allowing your child to brush their teeth first and doing a second round can ensure thorough cleaning.

Smiles of Round Lake Is Here For You

In situations where children may be more receptive to advise from alternative authority figures, our dentists are available to provide support in promoting good oral hygiene habits during dental appointments.  Hopefully, you found this article helpful on why you think, My Kid Hates Brushing Their Teeth.

Give Smiles Of Round Lake a call to schedule your next dental visit.  Our friendly staff is available to answer any dental-related questions.  You can Contact Us by phone at 847-546-1542 or email [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you!