Our experts

My child won’t brush his teeth unless I threaten to punish him. How can we avoid this daily battle?

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
Corbis
Corbis
THIS MONTH, WE ASK

My child won’t brush his teeth unless I threaten to punish him. How can we avoid this daily battle?

Kids are often “lazy” to do so because they are too tired. In the evening, ask your child to brush well before his bedtime when you know he has finished all his food and drink. In the mornings, it is acceptable to brush teeth after breakfast, when he is fully awake. Make this a routine that your child looks forward to.

Choose an age-appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste with designs and flavours that might interest him. You can sing songs and count the strokes as he brushes his teeth. There are now many apps for smartphones and tablets that can help motivate a reluctant child.

Kids above the age of five may also be motivated to brush when using a batteryoperated toothbrush. But don’t forget that you should help clean his teeth thoroughly until he’s seven.

Dr Rashid Tahir, The Kids Dentist

EDUCATION

Brian Caswell is the dean of Research and Program Development at Mindchamps. He has 15 grandchildren.

Helen Marjan is the joint managing director and director of Studies at Lorna Whiston Schools. Her three children are in their teens.

June Rusdon is the chief executive officer of Busy Bees Asia. She has three kids in their 20s.

Leanne Sunarya is the executive director of Etonhouse International Education Group. Her two children are in their 20s.

PSYCHIATRY

Dr Cornelia Chee is a psychiatrist and director in the Women’s Emotional Health Service at the National University Hospital. Her daughters are aged 11 and 14.

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Dr Richard C. Woolfson is a child psychologist based in Britain. He has written 15 books on child and family development, and is Young Parents’ long-standing Age by Stage columnist. He’s also a grandfather of four.

PAEDIATRICS

Dr Chan Poh Chong is the head and senior consultant with the Division of General Ambulatory Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Khoo Teck Puat- National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital.

Dr Natalie Epton is a specialist paediatrician and neonatologist at the International Paediatric Clinic. She has three children aged three to 10.

GYNAECOLOGY

Dr Goh Shen Li is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. She has three children aged one to five.

LACTATION & PARENTCRAFT

Kang Phaik Gaik is a senior nurse manager and parentcraft/ lactation consultant at Mount Alvernia Hospital’s Parentcraft Centre. Her two children are in their 20s.

NUTRITION

Pauline Xie is a senior dietitian with the Clinical Services Division at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. Her three daughters are aged three to 10.

DENTAL

Dr Rashid Tahir is a paediatric dentist at The Kids Dentist. He’s also the president-elect of the Pediatric Dentistry Association of Asia. His two daughters are in their teens.

FAMILY

Alfred Tan is the chief executive offi cer of Singapore Children’s Society. His two children are in their 20s.

Any views expressed by the Members of the Editorial Advisory Board in this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of, or are sanctioned by, this magazine.

Members of the Editorial Advisory Board do not, by virtue of their membership, endorse or support any product or service advertised or articles featured in this magazine. The articles in this magazine are for your information only. Do not substitute it for the advice of a qualified health-care practitioner or professional adviser.