brushing tips

Help your child brush their teeth at least twice a day.  This is especially important at night when we produce less saliva that helps wash away debris and prevent acids from attacking our teeth.

Consider letting your child pick their own toothbrush.  Many characters appeal to children and may motivate them to brush more frequently.  Always choose a toothpaste without Fluoride until 2 years of age, then use only a pea-sized amount. 

Brush your child's teeth with a soft toothbrush in a circular motion and up and down.  Children tend to focus on the front teeth as these are visible and neglect the back, so show them how to brush all of the teeth and do it for them.

Teach your child to rinse after meals if they cannot brush, such as when they are at school.

Please do not forget flossing.  This is a very important step in your child's oral health routine, as it cleans between the teeth where most cavities form as children, especially where crowding is present.  Start with a piece of floss about 18" long.  Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand.  Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.  To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss lightly between the thumb and index finger of each hand.  Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion.  Avoid forcing or snapping the floss in place.  Bring the floss to the gumline then curve it into a C-shape for each tooth.

Most children will not be able to brush or floss sufficiently on their own until they are about 7 years old, so be patient and enjoy the time you have with your child teaching them about good dental hygiene.