Parents know all too well how difficult it is to get their child to brush their teeth before going to school or to bed. However, did you know that smart and innovative tech can make toothbrushing actually fun for your child?
Now that we are living in “the technology age”, there are many options available to make your child’s toothbrushing routine more fun!
You probably enjoy apps and smart products in nearly every area of your life, from voice recognition to smart TVs inside your car. Now is the time to use technology (such as smart toothbrushes) as part of a fun dental routine for your family.
What technology is available to parents and their children?
Available technology
From advanced electric toothbrushes to new, innovative apps, parents have many opportunities to make their child’s dental and oral health more enjoyable. Let’s discuss the apps out there and the toothbrushes available for children.
Apps
Apps not only make toothbrushing more fun for your child but also can educate them about proper oral care techniques.
There are many perks that apps are able to provide, such as providing timers to make sure your child reaches their two full minutes brushing, and prompts that remind your child to brush again.
Dental apps offer invaluable support in maintaining optimal oral health for young children. Here are some free apps you can use to help your children brush their teeth:
Brush DJ
This app plays music from your child’s device while displaying a timer that encourages them to keep brushing until the song ends. It also provides helpful tips on technique and reminders for regular check-ups.
Disney Magic Timer
Children can brush their teeth with the help of their favourite characters, from Elsa from Frozen to Spider-Man.
This app makes each brushing session feel like an adventure through a magical wood.
Chomper Chums
Your child will have a wealth of adorable characters to choose from to guide them through various toothbrushing challenges.
This app teaches proper brushing techniques and offers rewards for their efforts.
Toothsavers
This fun app gives kids an adventure to go on while brushing their teeth.
It is engaging and sweet, it teaches kids basic dental hygiene skills, and also showcases the time they spent doing so to encourage them to do a good job.
Brusheez
Kids, parents, and dental professionals have said that this app is tremendously fun for helping children brush.
Children can pick their pal and interact with the animations, choosing their unique colours and brushing alongside them during a two-minute timer.
Mimizaur
Looking for an app that will get your kids excited about brushing their teeth? Minizaur provides a dinosaur companion to accompany your child during their brushing. It combines fun and dental education, teaching them to brush properly.
Brush Teeth with The Wiggles
The Wiggles is a popular kids’ musical group that stars in this app in conjunction with dental experts to help build regular and healthy dental habits.
Brush Teeth Reminder
This is a simple daily reminder to stick to your dental routine. It can be used by adults and children. You can make it a family activity and brush together. You will receive two reminders per day, with two minutes to brush each time.
Brush Monster
The app is very simple and easy to use. It uses your device’s camera and dresses your kid in a tooth superhero costume. This mission is to banish your teeth’s enemies using your toothbrush’s powers. As you progress in cleaning your teeth, the mouth-dwelling monsters will become weaker, until you defeat them.
Colgate Brushing Adventure
This is a free iPhone app designed to make brushing teeth a fun and educational experience for children. The app offers two exciting games to play:
- Plaque Attack: Where kids must defeat nasty plaque monsters while learning the correct brushing motion and speed.
- Brushing Adventure: This game brings the children on a journey to surf the ocean and brush away the nasties with the help of a voiceover.
What about limiting screen time?
While apps may sound like a lot of fun to add to your child’s dental routine, it is important to limit screen time. Screen time is dangerous for children’s mental development, so it is essential to use it only when necessary. As long as your child spends no more than a few minutes looking at apps while brushing their teeth, the risk decreases.
Smart toothbrushes
We have smartphones, smart TVs, and smart cars, so it is inevitable that we all start using smart toothbrushes. It is essential for children to develop good oral hygiene habits as early as possible because it is the foundation for lifelong dental health. Let’s dive into the science behind such innovative gadgets and explore the transformation it does to our children’s teeth:
Built-in sensors
Many smart toothbrushes have sensors that let you know if you are brushing too hard. Brushing too hard can lead to gum damage and tooth enamel wear. The sensor will remind your child to ease up on the pressure, which can help your gums and teeth.
A typical toothbrush requires technique and focus to reach all areas of the mouth thoroughly. Children need to maintain the right angle, pressure, and duration when brushing, which some children may find difficult. The sensors act like a cue to let your children know they’re missing spots, which helps children learn the correct technique over time.
Built-in reminders
Consistency is the magic ingredient that helps develop good dental habits. Smart toothbrushes make it easier to stick to a regular schedule.
Apps can be linked to your smart toothbrush, which emits a noise when you need to brush your teeth next. This helps your child stick to their routine, which is essential for avoiding cavities and gum disease.
Parental monitoring and progress tracking
Parents no longer need to anxiously ponder their child’s brushing performance, as they can immediately review the data on their phone. You can also work with the child to see what areas of their mouth they need to spend more time on, creating a collaborative approach to their dental well-being.
Additionally, you can make it more fun for the child by offering rewards every time they achieve a perfect score.
Better plaque removal
Smart toothbrushes are better at reducing the risk of cavities compared to manual toothbrushes.
Children take years to develop their motor neuron skills, and handling their manual toothbrush means that they are almost sure to miss sections of their teeth when they brush.
Smart toothbrushes are designed to help children reach all areas of their mouth, including the gum line, which is often missed when using a manual toothbrush.
Technologically advanced toothbrushes can help give your children happier and brighter smiles.
Make brushing an exciting part of your child’s routine
Apps and smart toothbrushes are a modern and more efficient way to keep your child’s smile brighter and happier. By engaging your child in technology, toothbrushes encourage lifelong habits and will reduce parents’ anxiety about their child’s oral health.
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