Teach Your Children By Example–Brush Correctly

They copy everything you do.

The list of things children learn from their children is amazingly extensive. These little people mimic language, movement, and eating habits.

As your children are mimicking you, have them mimic proper teeth brushing techniques. Parents can teach their children to brush by brushing their children’s teeth as soon as these first teeth appears. After age two they should brush twice daily.

Anyone who has raised children know there is an age where they become independent. “I can do it,” becomes a popular phrase with them.

Letting them brush their own teeth gives them good habits. Have them watch you brush your own teeth for a sufficient length of time. Even when they are two and three-years-old, parents should continue to supervise, and brush hard to clean areas. For many children the supervising should continue until as late as age six. Your child’s teeth won’t be set permanently until the appearance of their second molars around age 12, so parents should continue to keep an eye on their brushing until then.

Here are a few ideas to teaching kids correct brushing practices:

• Use only a small dab of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child not to swallow the toothpaste.
• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Brush the inside surface of each tooth first. This is where plaque may accumulate most.
• Brush gently back and forth.
• Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth.
• Angle the brush along the outer gumline. Gently brush back and forth.
• Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Gently brush back and forth.
• Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom.
• Brushing the tongue is not only fun, but healthy.

Dr. Croft and his staff are here at Columbian Orthodontics when you are ready for more extensive orthodontics teaching.