Helping your children develop good oral habits when they’re young is the best way to keep them on track for long-term dental health. It’s never too late to start a good oral health routine with your kids!
Teach Good Brushing Habits
Establish tooth brushing as a permanent part of your child’s daily routine. If you have the ability to brush your teeth alongside your child, you can be a great example for them of how long to brush, how much toothpaste to use, and other elements of brushing that many adults might take for granted.
Help your child remember the following:
- When brushing, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. It’s often tempting for kids to squeeze a huge amount of toothpaste onto their brush—let them know a little is enough!
- Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day. Using a timer or playing a two-minute song can be a great way to help your child keep track of brushing time.
- Encourage your child to practice brushing their teeth in gentle circles, rather than scrubbing straight across their teeth.
When Should Children Start Flossing?
Flossing is an important part of any dental hygiene routine, but it doesn’t always seem as straightforward as tooth brushing. When do kids need to start flossing? Should they floss on their own, or with help?
A good rule of thumb is that children should start flossing when they have at least two teeth that touch each other. It can be very difficult for young children to floss effectively on their own, so it’s important to floss your child’s teeth for them until they’re ready to do it on their own.
As you teach your child how to floss, remember:
- Floss gently in between all teeth that touch each other at least once—ideally twice!—per day.
- Floss as closely to the gumline as possible.
- Instead of “popping” floss down and up between teeth, try to move the floss in a scooping motion.
Good Oral Hygiene Habits in Children Lead to Great Dental Health in Adults.
If you’re still unsure how to help your child develop good dental habits, contact us today! We are passionate about answering questions and making sustainable dental health a reality for everyone.