5 Tips to Help Kids Brush Their Teeth

Dental hygiene is important for every family member, especially your children. Kids require daily brushing and flossing paired with consistent visits to your dentist to help their teeth function at their best. Most dental care happens at home, so how can you ensure your child is brushing daily and effectively? 

Continue reading to learn more about 5 tips to help your child brush their teeth. 

5 Tips to Help Kids Brush Their Teeth

Brushing your teeth is a necessary life skill to learn. It helps prevent tooth decay and other dental problems, but it’s not a natural skill you pick up. If your child is new to brushing their teeth, they may feel anxious or not want to do it. 

You can help your child create a life-long habit. Consider using these 5 tips to help your child brush their teeth: 

Make Sure They’re Brushing Well

Brushing your teeth feels natural because you’ve done it for so long, but make sure your child can brush theirs effectively. They need to brush their teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes. 

Watch your child as they brush their teeth to see if they’re brushing well. Effective brushing includes the following: 

• Holding your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gumline
• Gently brushing to avoid irritating the gums
• Brushing all of the teeth & chewing surfaces
• Gently brushing your tongue

You can set a timer to help your child brush their teeth for a full 2 minutes. This trick can help promote the best possible dental hygiene for your child. 

Show Your Child How to Brush

If your child needs help brushing their teeth, show them how! They can mimic your brushing routine and learn to care for their teeth properly. Many behaviours pass down from parent to child. 

Ensure you’re brushing and flossing well and that your child follows along. To make the experience more memorable, consider making daily brushing a game they can join. 

Start a Dedicated Routine 

One way to help promote good oral hygiene for your child is to set a routine and stick to it. Brushing their teeth on a dedicated schedule can help your child build up a life-long habit. Don’t let them skip, even on vacation or after a long day. 

One way to help stay on this routine is to reward good behaviour. It can be as simple as saying you’re proud of your child and hugging them. Figure out what motivates your child, and you can get them to stick to their daily brushing. 

Make Brushing Fun

Brushing your teeth isn’t the most exhilarating activity, but you can make this experience a fun time for you and your child. You can turn on a song to dance, play a video, or tell a 2-minute story. With some creativity, you can make brushing something your child looks forward to. 

Give Them Control Over What They Brush With

You can get your child invested in their dental hygiene by letting them pick out their toothbrush and toothpaste. There are many different colours, flavours, and designs to choose from. 

These tips can help your child brush their teeth, but this is only one aspect of their oral hygiene. At-home care is critical for your child’s dental health, but so are dental visits. 

Don’t Forget About the Importance of Your Dentist 

Frequent dental visits are essential for good oral hygiene and dental health. Even with diligent brushing and flossing, your dentist needs to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and check for any potential problems. 

There are 3 reasons to take your child for a dental exam: 

• You can learn if at-home cleaning is working
• Your dentist can find any current problems & address them
• Your child can learn that going to the dentist helps prevents tooth-related issues 

During your child’s first visit, you and your dentist may discuss several topics related to your child’s dental health. These topics include their developmental milestones, oral habits (thumb sucking, lip sucking, etc.), teething, nutrition, and more. 

Without routine checkups and cleaning, your child may develop cavities or other dental problems. 

When Should Your Child Visit the Dentist? 

According to the Canadian Dental Association, your child’s first exam should happen by the time they’re 12 months old or within 6 months of their first tooth. This visit should occur within this timeframe to catch any early problems. 

In general, a dental exam every 6 months can help your dentist catch issues early and help your child become more comfortable being at the dental office. 

Promote Good Dental Hygiene With Help From Your Dentist 

With diligent brushing and flossing and consistent dental visits, you can promote good dental health for your child. Use some of these listed tips to help your child brush their teeth, and remember to book them in for a dental exam. 

Your dentist can check for signs of any problems and recommend ways to help maintain your child’s oral health. Contact your dentist today if you or your child need a dental exam.