Parents know that getting a child to do most chores can be a challenge. That is no different when getting your child to take care of their dental health. In the early years of their lives, children are physically unable to properly clean their teeth. Even when they do become old enough to properly clean their teeth, they still need the help of a parent to make sure that their teeth are being thoroughly cleaned. Paying special attention to your child’s dental health and helping them to thoroughly brush their teeth will guide them to future dental success. Here are some tips that will make brushing your child’s teeth easier.
Position Behind Your Child
One of the first things that you will have to decide when brushing your child’s teeth is how to position yourself so that you can properly brush their teeth. It may seem like facing your child is the easiest way to brush your child’s teeth because you can look directly into their mouth. Others may think that standing to the side of the child may be easier. However, the easiest way to brush your child’s teeth is probably to stand or site behind them with the mirror in front of both of you. This will allow both you and your child to see what is happening in the mirror and will allow you to brush your child’s teeth in the same way that you brush your own.
Use an Appropriately-Sized Toothbrush
Many parents may not realize this but toothbrush manufacturers offer different sizes of toothbrushes. In fact, they offer toothbrushes that have been specifically designed for children by being smaller. Getting one of these toothbrushes for your child will ensure that the toothbrush comfortably fits into their mouth so that each tooth can be thoroughly cleaned when brushing. When brushing your child’s teeth, use one of these toothbrushes with a small smear of toothpaste for successful results. As your child continues to grow older and develop, you can transition them to a bigger toothbrush, similar to the one you use.
Supervise Your Child Until Age Seven
For the first few years of your child’s life, you will need to brush their teeth because your child will have yet to develop the motor skills to do so themselves. But even when your child has reached the point where they are able to physically brush their own teeth, you should still keep an eye on them to make sure that their teeth are being thoroughly brushed. You should continue supervising your child’s brushing until they are seven years old. After that point, they will have gained the proper brushing habits to take care of their dental hygiene themselves.
Don’t Forget the Back of Teeth and Gums
While brushing your child’s teeth, you will brush all of the easily visible parts of the teeth but you may forget to brush the less visible parts of the teeth and the gums. Missing the back of the teeth can cause tooth decay and cavities that can be very detrimental to your child’s dental health. You also want to make sure that you are brushing your child’s gums to ensure their health. While gum disease typically occurs as you get older, failure to properly care for your gums may cause gum disease to occur earlier.
Make Brushing a Routine
Your child, as with you, should have their teeth brushed twice a day. Whether it is when they eat or when they go to bed, children often have routines. Giving your child a routine that includes brushing their teeth right before they go to bed and one more time throughout the day, often when they wake up, will have a lasting effect as they will get used to this routine and will likely continue to brush at that time as they grow older.
Taking care of your child’s dental health is of great importance as the health of your child’s baby teeth will have a big impact on their future oral success. These tips will make it easier for you to brush your child’s teeth thoroughly and will ensure that they are prepared to brush their own teeth when the time comes. If you child is in need of a pediatric dentist, come see the professionals at Pediatric Dentistry of Central Florida.
