Don't
- Let children swap any items from their tooth brushing kits.
- Let children suck or spit on taps.
- Leave taps running during tooth brushing.
- Physically assist children unless you are confident of your technique.
- Let children walk or run around with tooth brushes in their mouths.
- Make a game of it. Some health care authors recommend this for brushing at home but in the pre-school setting it could lead to chaos.
- Expect too much of the younger children. As long as you make it a daily routine and you let them copy the older children you will probably be surprised at just how quickly they improve.
Some of this advice might seem complicated and tedious at first. But, like so many procedures, it is all a matter of getting organised.
Children respond well to routine. It gives them a sense of responsibility and discipline without being stern or harsh. Routine means knowing what follows next and that gives children a sense of comfort and security.
Some settings have expressed concerns over their own shortages of facilities, such as wash basins, for large numbers of children. To this I would say . . .
“Please, don’t give up . . .”
Organising lots of smaller groups of children will obviously take up more of your time but it will be worth the effort. You will be helping to protect them from a truly awful disease and you will make your setting more attractive to parents.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.stop-the-rot.co.uk)
