As a Dentist, I’m always thinking about how to get kids brushing independently. Even as a dad it can be a struggle to get my two boys, ages 2 & 5, to incorporate brushing into their daily routine and enjoy brushing on their own. I’ve found a new Dental Toothbrushing App!
BRUSH & FLOSS:
For good oral hygiene, we recommend a daily routine of Toothbrushing at least twice a day and Flossing once a day. You can use manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush. If you spend 2-5 minutes each session, you can get onto all the surfaces of the teeth and remove the harmful plaque that can accumulate and sit on your teeth (leading to cavities and gum disease!!). See our “Brushing and Flossing” page for instructions on proper brushing.
The old school way for proper brushing was to use your watch, or 2 minute timer to brush off all the plaque and bacteria that sits on your teeth and in between your gums.
DENTAL TOOTHBRUSHING APPS:
Because of the advent of Smartphones and tablets, we can now make Brushing even more FUN for kids to start a lifelong enjoyment of toothbrushing and flossing! I’ve recommended the “Brush DJ” in the past – which allows you to listen to music as you follow along and navigate the different parts of your mouth.
Most importantly, we must make brushing and flossing FUN! Our newest app that we recommend is the “Philips Sonicare For Kids” App. I just downloaded it last week for my 5 year old son and now he LOVES waking up early to brush his teeth. There’s a “Sparkly” that hatches and you can name it – he’s named his “Skippy”, and each day you can brush in the AM and PM and they will award you with accessories like glasses you can place onto your Sparkly, spray paint that you can colour your Sparkly, and snacks that help your Sparkly grow – but also creates yucky plaque that you will brush off the next time you brush. It’s like having a Tamagotchi – do you remember those from the 90s? So fun!
Full Disclosure:
Dr. Erwin Chan is not an employee of Philips Sonicare, nor does he receive any form of monetary or gift compensation. Bayview Family Dental is a dental clinic located in Aurora, ON. We are committed to creating a community with beautiful healthy smiles!