This is probably one of the most talked about subjects in my life. I’m Katie, a dentist (I live in Somerset, with my fiancé Justina, her 10 year old Maddox and our sausage dog Betsy), and most parents I speak to have come up against this challenge at some point. 

• Babies - they have usually only had a nipple or a bottle in their mouths during their blissful lives so far, and then you stick a toothbrush and toothpaste in there? It’s rare that it goes well. But you persevere and it gets better until…

• Toddlers - “I can do things for myself now, so please remove that brush from my mouth! I can eat that toothpaste and chew and ruin your toothbrush UNASSISTED thank you very much.” But nevertheless, you persevere and it (sometimes) gets better until…

• Around 7 years - stubborn, argumentative, and crafty! You know the toothbrush hasn’t been in there, but how is it wet? (I remember the efforts I went to to make it look like I’d brushed my teeth, honestly it’s so much easier to just brush the damn things) and then this happens....

• Teens - What can I say? It always baffled me that my teen girl patients were more concerned about their perfect eyebrows than the plaque covered teeth IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR FACES. Teens are another challenge altogether! 

There are loads of cool ways you can help persuade your child to brush and floss but like most things the novelty will eventually wear off. They usually rely on a burst of motivation (which, if any of my new year's resolutions are anything to go by, eventually disappears).

At Habox HQ, we truly believe we have the solution. And here it is:

Make it a habit. You need to move brushing from a deliberate action (takes effort and brain power) to an automatic habit. 

Brushing and Flossing are an action and usually part of a routine.  Relying on motivation alone won’t work. Motivation peaks (when you visit the dentist) & troughs (a week later when the next check up is 6 months away).  Habits make up around 40% of our daily actions. They are automatic. They save brain power. Automatic means it just happens, no need to nag, no need to shout, because it’s already happening. 

It won’t happen quickly but here is how to make brushing/flossing a habit. 

DISCLAIMER - this is a summary of what some very clever people have already written down, it is NOT my work. 

1. Make it obvious (what is the cue/prompt to brush?)

   • Habit stacking - add it on to something that always happens at bed time, such as shower, put PJ’s on in the bathroom. 

   • Design your environment - toothbrushes in the kitchen works a treat for children who feel like they are getting an extra 2 minutes downstairs at night. 

2. Make it attractive (make it something they WANT to do, not NEED to do)

   • Temptation bundling - something you want. So they might want to stay up 5 more minutes. Brush your teeth (in the kitchen maybe) and you can stay up 5 more minutes. 

   • Culture - Your dentist (find a good one, who likes children!) & subscribe to Habox

3. Make it easy (simplicity changes behaviour, do they have the ability to brush?)

   • Reduce friction. Decrease the number of steps between your child and brushing (walking up the stairs for example!)

   • The two second brush/change myth - if mornings are not the most routine for your brushing, aim for a 2 second brush. Really. It’s easier to build on a habit than create one. If they brush for 2 seconds every day for a month you’re more likely to get them brushing longer after this habit is established.

4. Make it satisfying

   • Habit trackers - I mean, if they can make me take my makeup off reliably (wish I was joking about this, but I really did use Maddox’s brushing chart to mark the days I took my makeup off) then they can work on a child. 

   • Praise good brushing/flossing (even if it’s not perfect) - Kids love praise. Even if they have done a crappy job, if it builds the habit who cares. You can work on the perfect technique later.

The most important message I can give you about children’s brushing  is this. When it goes wrong don’t internalise this as a failure. You haven’t failed. Your child has not failed. Examine what happened (go all Sherlock Holmes on that tantrum, screaming, kicking or whatever behaviour your child shows when they feel crappy) and see if you can adapt and learn from it. 

But the fact remains. Sometimes kids feel ticked off, and tired, and don’t want to brush or floss, just let it go. They’ll be OK.

Author: Katie, co-founder of MyHabox