How To Keep Kids Smiling Bright (Even In The Grocery Store!)

February 15, 2021

Have you ever thought about how our smiles are with us for life? A smile is one of the best ways to meet someone new or show someone we care about that we enjoy them. Our kids are learning from us as we smile to engage with the world, so it’s always a good time to start helping our kids care for their smiles!

Here are a few tips to help your toddler in honor of “Childrens’ Dental Health Month”!

Here’s how you can make your own “Bake For Family Fun Month” celebration:

1. Shop with your toddler for toothpaste & toothbrush!

Kickstart your child’s excitement about dental health in the store together! Grab your Buggie Huggie shopping cart tray to maximize shopping cart safety and plan to make shopping for toothbrushes & toothpaste a special treat! Include your child in picking out their toothpaste and toothbrush by placing two or three options on the Buggie Huggie tray for them to pick their favorite. Choosing what they love is a great first step in getting them excited to brush!

SHOP NOW

2. While shopping, watch out for added sugars in “health foods.”

Unsuspecting sources of sugar include juice, medicines, and even yogurt. Don’t worry yourself sick over it; just try to be mindful when you can! If you don’t have brain space to check labels or finances to upgrade your go-to options, you can also add in a light brushing session mid-day for your toddler if your morning usually included sugary cereal, juice, or yogurt. (Bonus points if you treat yourself to a mid-day “brushing treatment” too -- you’ll be surprised at how much a clean mouth can boost our mood!)

3. Speaking of brushing, if your child is younger than 6, it’s important to watch them brush.

Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. (If your child doesn’t like brushing, there are lots of musical timers and other fun ways to make brushing more like a game.)

4. Make teeth health super fun for kids with free resources on “Mouth Monsters”!

This website is filled with videos, games, coloring sheets, and helpful answers for parents about dental health! Helping kids learn to care for & be proud of their smiles at a young age is a gift that keeps giving for life!

If you are a stressed out mom than needs help or already feeling the weight of mom guilt, PLEASE don’t feel any shame if you struggle with helping your kids having healthy brushing & eating habits! We are all learning and growing, and as we know better, we can slowly start to do better. So when you think of it, make a small choice in the right direction, and model for your kids how simple little changes lead to big results in the long run!

We’re cheering you on, Mom - keep smiling & doing your best for your kids!