How to Brush Your Childs Teeth

Baby teeth eventually fall out to make way for adult teeth but that doesn’t mean cleaning them isn’t important.

If decay causes them to be removed, it can cause crowding problems when their adult teeth emerge.

In a similar way that we get our babies to wear headbands to have them get used to having to wear a hat, it is a great idea to wipe a baby’s gums with a soft cloth twice a day so they become accustomed to someone cleaning their mouth.

You can continue to use a soft cloth to clean the newly erupted baby teeth or you can switch to using a soft children’s brush, while your child lies on your lap or on a bed.

Tips to keep your child’s teeth clean

1. Children don’t need toothpaste until they are 18 months of age, until then cold water is fine to use.
2. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, using small circular motions.
3. Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste that is suitable for children. This can help to strengthen the outside of the teeth and prevent decay.
4. Remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.
5. Their teeth should be cleaned at least twice a day, after eating and before bed.
6. Make sure they brush for at least 2 minutes. Try using an egg timer to make keeping time fun for your child.
7. Help your child to brush their teeth from the time they get their first tooth until they are seven or eight years old. A good indication that your child is capable of brushing their own teeth is that they are able to tie their own shoelaces, until then they are simply not dextrous enough. After that, supervising them is still important.
8. Try to get into a regular tooth brushing routine and give your child plenty of praise when they brush their teeth well. Create a wall chart and reward system to keep your child motivated and to keep track of their brushing routine.
9. Replace toothbrushes or toothbrush heads every three months. The change of a new season is a great way of keeping track of these dates.
10. Children should floss as soon as they have two teeth that are in contact with each other. You should supervise flossing until they are about 10 years of age. Floss picks rather than tape may make this necessary task a lot easier.
11. There are now many apps available to make brushing time fun and enjoyable. These apps can assist in making sure all surfaces of the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.

To develop strong teeth, make sure your child eats a healthy, balanced diet and avoids foods with a lot of added sugar, such as lollies, biscuits and soft drinks.

By establishing these healthy eating and brushing habits at a young age we hope to minimise the amount of dental treatment they will require over their entire lifetime.

Call (07) 3465 1199 or visit us at Unit 4/6 Endeavour Boulevard in North Lakes.