Thursday, February 26, 2015
Tooth Brushing Basics Parents Should Know
Good
dental habits start in our youngest years. Teaching our children how to brush
properly gives them a lifelong health skill.
Not only does it help their independence and confidence, it really can
help them stay healthier. In this article, we’d like to address some of the
most common questions about childhood brushing, such as:
Why should my kids brush their baby teeth, if they are going
to fall out anyway?
To some,
it may seem counterintuitive to clean something that is temporary and will
eventually fall out. However, getting your children to start brushing those
baby teeth will help prepare them to care for their permanent adult teeth. Remember,
practice makes perfect. As we get older,
it becomes more difficult to establish a new routine, even an important one
like brushing teeth. Furthermore, deciduous teeth (a fancy word for baby teeth)
can still be subject to decay, plaque, and other bacteria that can lead to
pain, infection and/or illness. So brushing those tiny chompers is very
important!
When should my child start brushing?
Believe it
or not, you can start teaching your little one to brush with his or her very
first tooth! Of course, you’ll want to be the one doing the brushing until your
children are old enough to hold the brush themselves (around 2 or 3 years old).
You’ll also want to supervise them and even brush and floss again after they
are done, until they are old enough to handle the entire process of tooth care
(using the correct amount of paste, flossing, rinsing, etc.). Your kid's
dentist can help you decide when it’s appropriate to let your child do it
independently.
How should my child brush?
Brushing isn’t just about swishing a brush around a
few times; there really is a right way to do it. The brush should be held so
the bristles are at an angle about 45 degrees, to the gums. The proper motion
for tooth brushing is small circular motions on each tooth surface. Make sure you and/or your child does it softly,
with short strokes. Scrubbing too hard can actually damage the gums or cheeks.
Do not forget to brush all surfaces of the teeth and the tongue, as well. And
of course, be sure to thoroughly clean the brush and place it somewhere safe to
dry.
Why should my kids brush their baby teeth, if they are going
to fall out anyway?
To some,
it may seem counterintuitive to clean something that is temporary and will
eventually fall out. However, getting your children to start brushing those
baby teeth will help prepare them to care for their permanent adult teeth. Remember,
practice makes perfect. As we get older,
it becomes more difficult to establish a new routine, even an important one
like brushing teeth. Furthermore, deciduous teeth (a fancy word for baby teeth)
can still be subject to decay, plaque, and other bacteria that can lead to
pain, infection and/or illness. So brushing those tiny chompers is very
important!
When should my child start brushing?
Believe it
or not, you can start teaching your little one to brush with his or her very
first tooth! Of course, you’ll want to be the one doing the brushing until your
children are old enough to hold the brush themselves (around 2 or 3 years old).
You’ll also want to supervise them and even brush and floss again after they
are done, until they are old enough to handle the entire process of tooth care
(using the correct amount of paste, flossing, rinsing, etc.). Your kid's
dentist can help you decide when it’s appropriate to let your child do it
independently.
How should my child brush?
Brushing isn’t just about swishing a brush around a
few times; there really is a right way to do it. The brush should be held so
the bristles are at an angle about 45 degrees, to the gums. The proper motion
for tooth brushing is small circular motions on each tooth surface. Make sure you and/or your child does it softly,
with short strokes. Scrubbing too hard can actually damage the gums or cheeks.
Do not forget to brush all surfaces of the teeth and the tongue, as well. And
of course, be sure to thoroughly clean the brush and place it somewhere safe to
dry.
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