How to Brush Children's Teeth

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

It is very important to start a good oral hygiene routine with your children early to prevent tooth decay and gum problems. You should begin to brush your child's teeth right from when the first tooth erupts until the child reaches the age of 5-6. When you introduce a good oral hygiene routine to the child early, it becomes a part of their daily routine and the child gets used to the feeling of a nice clean mouth. As a result, when they begin to brush their teeth on their own, it is much less of a hassle and the child will actually want to brush his/her own teeth.

Which toothbrush should I use?
Whenever choosing a toothbrush for your child, make sure that the toothbrush is small enough to fit into the child's mouth and should have soft bristles. It is a good idea to allow your child to choose a toothbrush that has his/her favorite colors or characters on it.

How much toothpaste should I use?
Apply a pea sized amount to the toothbrush. This is the right amount that the toothpaste will not become too foamy in the mouth, but still will be enough to properly clean your child's teeth.

Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. There are plenty of childrens toothpastes on the market. Choose one with a flavor your child will like and/or let the child choose his/her favorite color or character.

Where should I stand when brushing my child's teeth?
It is easiest to stand either beside your child or behind your child when brushing your child's teeth. Hold the toothbrush at a position that is comfortable for you and place your other hand on the child's shoulder or base of the neck.

How long should I brush my child's teeth?
Brushing childrens teeth should last for no less than 3 minutes. You can set a timer or there are inexpensive colorful sand filled timers that work well for children.

Which teeth do I brush first?
For the first 2 minutes, you want to focus on brushing the upper and lower back teeth. These are the teeth where cavities begin to develop first. Spend the most time on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. Move the brush gently in a short circular motion as if you were brushing your own teeth.

After you are finished brushing all of the back teeth, have your child rinse with water. It is very important to teach your child how to rinse and spit properly. Swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste is not good for your child. Some children can develop a condition called fluoritis which can cause white spots to form on the teeth.

When the child has thoroughly rinsed, the last minute should be focused on cleaning the upper and lower front teeth. Angle the toothbrush so that it is comfortable and easy for you to clean both the tongue side of the teeth as well as the front surfaces.

Should I floss my child's teeth?
When the child's teeth begin to touch each other, that is the time to begin flossing your child's teeth. The first teeth to touch are usually the back teeth. With a regular strand of floss or using a child's dental flosser, kneel beside or in front of your child. Move the floss between the teeth, starting with the back teeth and then work your way front. Gently floss under the gumline.


Don't forget to praise your child and congratulate them on a job well done. Tell the child how beautiful his/her teeth look and how pretty his/her smile is. By doing this, you help boost the child's self esteem as well as helping the child to learn that brushing his/her teeth is a good thing.