Ask Dr. Smith
Make Brushing Teeth Fun
“I have a 5 year old daughter and getting her to spend more than a few seconds brushing her teeth is nearly impossible! Do you have any favorite products that work well for kids so I don’t have to constantly monitoring her teeth brushing time?”
Like all parents, I sometimes have difficulty getting my own children to thoroughly brush their teeth twice a day. Even as a dentist, it’s still challenging to convince them to spend more than a few quick seconds brushing. It seems like it was almost easier when they were very younger when I brushed their teeth for them because I knew that is was being done the correct way!
Recently, I came across Dr. Fresh FireFly toothbrushes. At my house, they’re called “Blinkies” because of the light on the end of them that blinks indicating you have been brushing for a minute. This fun feature not only helps my kids see how long they are actually brushing for but it’s also a fun addition to make brushing more enjoyable.
FireFly carries a large variety of children’s toothbrushes with your child’s favorite characters. Ranging from Barbie, Spiderman, Hello Kitty, and many more, your little one will find one they like and your worries about reminding them to brush well will be a thing of the past. They even come in adult sizes without characters (which may disappoint a few of you Spiderman fans) and my teenage son uses them as well.
I recently saw in a Dimensions of Dental Hygiene journal article that the FireFly line of toothbrushes had earned the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance for its effectiveness in reducing gingivitis and removing plaque and bacteria that contribute to gum disease. Great to see the ADA signing off on a brush that has already earned my family’s seal of approval! Learn more about FireFly toothbrushes at www.fireflytoothbrush.com.
Establishing good oral hygiene and personal care routines at a young age is essential for dental health over a person’s lifetime. With permanent teeth beginning to erupt as early as age 5, proper and frequent brushing, introduction to flossing, a healthy diet, exposure to fluoride and dental sealants are all essential to growing teeth. Parental guidance and direct supervision is essential for young children when they first begin brushing so be sure to watch, demonstrate and even re-brush for your children to teach them proper brushing techniques. With FireFly, once they have the basics down, they’ll look forward to brushing their teeth on their own.
Although our specialty at Dental Health and Wellness Boston is adult restorative and cosmetic dentistry, so many of our patients are parents and we are happy to share our knowledge and my personal experiences when it comes to pediatric dentistry. Please send your questions through our website or post a comment on Facebook. For all you parents out there, I highly recommend the Rotodent Professional Rotary Toothbrush, available at Dental Health and Wellness Boston, to give you your own happy, healthy smile!