How to Build Healthy Teeth-Brushing Habits in Children
Raising little humans can be overwhelming. There are so many details to think about, and sometimes we have to pick our battles. It’s easy to see why teaching good oral hygiene from the start may be overlooked — many kids don’t enjoy brushing their teeth, and no parent loves the battle of getting kids to do it every morning and night.
Our team at Pediatric Smiles has put together some helpful hints for setting high standards of at-home dental care early on in your child’s life. We hope these tips help avoid at least some of the struggle that is sometimes associated with the morning and nightly routines of brushing teeth, flossing, rinsing, and more.
Start Early
It’s important to start oral care at an early age, not only to get your child used to it, but to avoid tooth decay, too. Learning good oral hygiene habits at a young age is important for long-term oral health. Parents can teach their children how to brush and how to floss by taking some key steps towards protecting those precious primary teeth.
Brushing Your Infant’s Teeth
You don’t have to wait for your child to be able to grasp a toothbrush – in fact, we recommend starting with a wet cloth instead, and when your child is just a few weeks old! An infant’s mouth can be cleaned after each feeding.
Begin by cradling the head with one hand while using your free hand to wipe the baby’s mouth with a clean wet gauze or wet cloth.
Brushing Once Teeth Have Erupted
A child’s teeth should be brushed as soon as the first tooth erupts and parents should only use a smear of toothpaste until age two.
Your baby will be born with all 20 primary teeth below their gumline. These teeth typically start to erupt between 6 and 9 months and children will usually have a full set of primary teeth in place by age 2 to 3. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are usually the first to appear, followed by the two top front teeth (upper central incisors).
Check out our blog on teething to learn how to soothe a baby or toddler who is teething.
Brushing Your Child’s Teeth
When teaching children to brush, parents of children under the age of seven need to ensure they use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Show your child how to spit out toothpaste; make sure they do not swallow it.
When Should Children Floss?
When tooth surfaces are next to each other, children should begin flossing. It is important to floss at least once a day, as bacterial plaque can settle between the teeth, leading to tooth decay and bad breath. The tongue should also be brushed to remove bacterial plaque. If your child doesn’t like brushing their tongue, invest in a tongue scraper. These are specially designed to help remove bacteria and plaque with a little less work.
When Should Kids Brush Their Own Teeth?
We recommend that parents take the lead in brushing their child’s teeth until they are 8 to 9 years old. At that point, they should have developed the dexterity and maturity to get all the nooks at crannies in the front and back of their mouths. You should still supervise brushing even when they begin to do it themselves.
Be an Example
Young children love to take part in any activity their parents and siblings are doing — especially if they think it’s their idea. Make a point to brush your teeth in front of your child. Modeling healthy teeth-brushing habits helps normalize it for kiddos. Children seek to imitate adults and often learn by watching, so parents who brush their teeth in front of their kids help lay the foundation for healthy teeth-brushing habits later.
Have 4 Minutes of Fun
Don’t just set a timer and supervise – make brushing twice a day for two minutes an event! If you’re looking for ways to make tooth brushing fun, look into fun timers like hourglasses or silly digital timers that your kids enjoy. Crank up your child’s favorite song and have a two-minute dance party. Videos or brushing apps may also make that time fly by. Making brushing an enjoyable experience helps add positive reinforcement to this good behavior, as well!
Don’t Give Up
Long days, missed naps, vacations, and a dislike of toothbrushing can disrupt our good oral health routines. Take it in stride and get back on track tomorrow! Your goal is to have your child learn to value brushing as part of their daily routine and get used to it early on.
Schedule an Appointment
Our office is always here to help with more tips and tricks to help you have a successful brushing and flossing experience with your child! Schedule an appointment with Pediatric Smiles of Northland KC today.
