If you’re a parent to a toddler, you may be starting to think more carefully about the quality of their oral health. As their baby teeth start to come in, oral hygiene and visits to the dentist become increasingly important.
Eventually, you’ll have to cross a fairly large hurdle—starting to brush your child’s teeth. Getting a rowdy toddler to sit still for two minutes at a time can sound like a tall order, but it’s definitely doable. Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to make brushing your child’s teeth as easy as possible.
Step 1: Getting Prepared
The first thing you can do as a parent to make oral healthcare exciting is to set the stage as much as possible. It’s a good idea to get your child involved in the process of selecting their own toothbrush and toothpaste, something with flavors they like or that are designed with their favorite characters.
Once you have the proper tools, you should find a way to incorporate brushing into your routine. Find two spots during the day when your child is most likely to be willing to sit still with you. You can even set up a sticker chart or reward system to get them to take oral health more seriously.
Step 2: Brushing Properly
Once you’ve manages to get your child in front of a sink, the next thing to do is to actually brush their teeth.
First, apply toothpaste to the brush. For children under 3, it’s recommended to use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. From 3-6, a pea-sized amount is better.
Start by brushing the inside of your child’s teeth, then the outside, then the chewing surface. Keep the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle pointed towards the gumline and brush in a back-and-forth motion. Finally, make sure they spit or rinse, as swallowing fluoride toothpaste isn’t the best idea for kids.
Step 3: Get them Excited
Once you have the basics down, it’s all about consistency. To that end, you should do what you can to make brushing fun for your child.
Be sure to give your child plenty of praise for their hard work, and see if you can’t figure out a way to reward them when they brush consistently. You can also try signing songs, doing dances, and playing games while brushing—whatever makes it fun!
About the Author
There’s nothing that Dr. Bryce Cushing loves more than being able to show children that dentistry is nothing to be scared of. His ability to help even the most anxious patients smile their brightest is a point of personal pride for him. Dr. Cushing received his degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, then completed his pediatric residency at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
If you have any questions about how to support your child’s oral health, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (402) 773-7873.