Motivation for toothbrush muffle - brushing teeth in children

Motivation tips: Cleaning teeth in children made easy
Many children are real "toothbrushing muffle", which can have extremely adverse consequences for the health of their teeth. The AOK has therefore put together a series of tips that parents can use to motivate their children to brush their teeth. Because to avoid tooth decay, a thorough dental care is essential.

"You have a little toothbrush at home? One who immediately takes off at the sight of the toothbrush? Then it's time for a little motivational program, "says the current AOK statement. Ranting, on the other hand, does not bring anything at all, as this only upsets children and spoils their toothbrushing even more thoroughly. The health insurance gives various tips on how children can be motivated to brush their teeth.

The right method can also motivate Zahnputzmuffel to brush your teeth. (Image: athomass / fotolia.com)

Brushing teeth as a common ritual
The AOK advises, for example, to brush teeth together from all family members in the evening. This is fun and could become a solid ritual. Also, sometimes help a toothbrush, which dictates the duration of the cleaning. It motivates to persevere. Alternatively, there is also the possibility to read a Zahnputzgeschichte. Variety could bring, for example, a mutual brushing teeth. Here the coordination is required. A change between right and left hand brings variety in the ritual of brushing teeth, reports the AOK. Last but not least, so-called plaque staining tablets could help with motivation. On the basis of the discolorations, the results of the cleaning process can be checked and whoever has red spots has to go on cleaning, "according to the AOK.

According to the health insurance, it can also be helpful to have a poem to brush your teeth describing the individual steps. Here, for example, offer the following rhyme:

"Brush your teeth, and do it right,
is important for all children.
Shorten and show teeth,
The brush wants to rub it clean.
Back and forth and up and down,
the brush makes your teeth lively.
Finally, we rinse our mouths,
so teeth stay healthy. "

Toothbrushes for children
In addition, the right toothbrush is crucial for brushing your teeth well in children. "Especially suitable are special children's toothbrushes with angled, thick handle and a short, narrow, pre-inclined brush head," explains the AOK. On the other hand, toothpaste is not necessary at an early age. "Avoid it as long as your child still swallows or spits out a large part of it," advises the health insurance company. Although children's toothpaste "can be swallowed without hesitation, but it should not be so delicious that the child understands it as candy," warns the AOK. From the age of six, the offspring could then share the adult toothpaste.

The right toothbrushing technique
According to the AOK, "the brushing technique and the regularity of the brushing are more important than the toothpaste." Ideally, teeth are brushed after each meal, "but whoever brushes two or three times a day is quite well", according to the health insurance company , The right brushing technique, "the KAI-Plus method", should be practiced with the children right from the start. The "K" stands for the chewing surfaces over which the toothbrush wipes like a scrubber, the "A" for the outer surfaces, which are brushed clean with small circles and the "I" for inner surfaces, which tooth by tooth of red to white (from the gum to the tooth crown) are cleaned with vertical movements, explains the AOK. However, parents should "trim the teeth of their child until school age", because "only when a child can write cursive liquid, it is fine motor skills far enough developed to brush his teeth independently," the note from the health insurance. (Fp)