Caring for our children’s teeth is so important to parents. We try our very best to keep those little white pegs super healthy and clean, in the hope we will instill healthy habits in our children and that they will go on to care well for their own teeth.

This isn’t without its challenges of course, as so many parents will know. Teeth cleaning and dentist trips to the Dentist In Grand Blanc can be very challenging, depending on the child.

Balancing healthy teeth and a healthy mouth with eating and drinking enough can also pose its own challenges, and can be especially difficult for parents with fussy eaters.

We all know how important it is that our children brush their teeth properly. Tales of the tooth fairy, never ending warnings about sugar, and trips to the dentist make it pretty difficult for us to forget. Stats from a new dental survey from FOREO even revealed the shocking news that a whopping 55% of three to five-year olds already have a filling.

Let’s face it, we’re not sure who dreads brush time more, us or our kids. So, here are some of the daily struggles that we face as parents, with a few easy to navigate solutions – including advice from dentist Dr Mark Hughes.

Two minutes might as well be two years to a toddler

Solution: Children definitely live in a parallel world where two minutes can seem like a lifetime (unless they have two minutes left before bed). To combat this problem, you need to make the timings a game. A brush like the FOREO ISSA^TM mikro or ISSA^TM mini 2, which has a built-in timer, flashes a smiley face when the two minutes are complete. Receiving a smiley face that really gives little ones a sense of achievement!

They want to do it themselves… but let’s face it don’t quite have the technique down

Solution: If they want to do it themselves, let them (for a bit). We all know children love to copy their parents, so brush yours at the same time to encourage them to use the same techniques. Once you’re done, let them help you, before helping them with those hard to reach areas.

Apparently the brush is some kind of chew toy

Solution: It’s normal for children to bite down on their brush, especially while you are attempting to get to the hard to reach areas. The solution here is simple, we find a little tickle most effective –  just be careful of your fingers. Also, investing in a silicone brush like the FOREO ISSA^TM mikro or ISSA^TM mini 2 means that they can chew without fear of them breaking a tooth. Plus the ultra-hygienic, medical grade silicone and PBT polymer harbours 10,000 less bacteria than nylon brush heads – phew, always a concern.

Is there some kind of manual when tackling the children’s teeth? How do I know I’m doing it right?

Solution: This is where we enlist the help of a real expert, enter Harley Street Dentist and FOREO ambassador Dr Mark Hughes….“Start by sitting or standing behind your child and cupping their chin in your hand. Angle the bristles of the toothbrush towards the gums and move the brush in gentle circles to clean the outer and inner sides of the teeth and gums. A good portion of time should be spent on the back molars, as this is an area where cavities often first develop. Then lift your child’s lips to brush the front and back of the teeth and end by gently brushing their tongue. Use a grain of rice sized amount of toothpaste to start, graduating to a pea sized by age three”

FOREO ISSA^TM mikro is available from foreo.com, RRP: £79, and the ISSA^TM mini 2 is available from Selfridges, RRP: £99.

Survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of FOREO among 2,002 UK adults aged 18+ including 1,000 parents of under-16s.