Brushing Basics

Let's admit it, brushing can feel like a chore sometimes and when it comes to brushing our little ones it's more like a nightmare! But, it's important to establish good hygiene habits for our littles early on. Since we understand the struggle all too well, we've rounded up some helpful tips to cut down on crying and help you and your littles brush up on... well, brushing! 

BASICS

Get your little one comfortable with their toothbrush. Have them hold and try it on their own so that they can get familiar with the grasp, the texture of the bristles, etc. 

Be consistent with brushing time and location. Construction and repetitiveness helps little ones  turn actions into habits (note to self: apply this to practicing yoga). As much as we love promoting kids' independence, it's crucial to take the lead here, and finish the job! 

GET THEM INVOLVED

Another way to make brushing more engaging is to let your child practice on a doll or stuffed animal! How cute is this little guy?!

They might be less apprehensive of you brushing them if they get to brush as well. You might want to consider letting your little one choose their toothbrush out of 2 or 3 options that you propose to them.

MODEL

Here’s a case where you’ll benefit from your little one’s favorite game…”monkey see, monkey do”! Try brushing your teeth in front of your little so they start to understand that it's something that's part of a daily routine and nothing to be scared of. Not only that, but it's helpful in demonstrating proper technique.

THE TASTE

Some kids are taste and texture sensitive. it can be a good idea to familiarize your child with the taste of toothpaste. For kids younger than 3 years old, the American Dental Association recommends an amount about the size of a grain of rice. For kids 3 to 6 years old, the ADA recommends an amount about the size of a pea.  

 

GRABEASE DOUBLE SIDED TOOTHBRUSH

As for toothbrushes, be sure to use one that's specifically for kids. The grabease toothbrush is a game-changer; it features double-sided bristles to brush your little's top and bottom teeth simultaneously, a tapered head to allow them to reach the most teeth at once, and a choke protection barrier to prevent gagging or banging the back of their gums. Our bristles are extra soft (especially perfect for kids who may be more sensitive). In fact, it will be hard to stop them from wanting to chew on the grabease toothbrush, but PLEASE NOTE that excessive chewing will destroy the delicate bristles.

 

(For extra tips about caring for your grabease toothbrush, check out this blog post.)