How to teach kids to brush their teeth, using their own kids’ toothbrush or baby toothbrush
10 tips to make toothbrushing both effective and fun while using a kids’ toothbrush or a baby toothbrush
Brushing your children's teeth: Is it a daily battle in your home? Not to worry, as there are a variety of ways to make the experience more pleasant and more effective, both for you as well as for your youngsters.
We’ll share insight into the importance of establishing a daily dental hygiene routine along with our best tips for teaching children how to brush their teeth properly with their very own kids’ toothbrush or baby toothbrush as soon as their first teeth appear.
The initial stages of toothbrushing
A parent has a very important role to play in maintaining their child's dental and oral health: Ensuring their teeth are properly brushed every day helps eliminate plaque (which contains bacteria that can cause cavities). The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) even recommends that parents start cleaning their baby's gums with a wet washcloth before their first teeth appear1. In addition to ensuring the cleanliness of your baby's mouth, it will also help to establish a healthy dental hygiene routine.
A small, soft-bristled baby toothbrush can become part of the routine as soon as the first tooth emerges, which is usually at around six months of age. Obviously, it’s still way too early to teach your child how to brush their teeth themselves, but it’s the perfect time to have them become acquainted with the routine! Brush their teeth yourself twice a day until they reach three years of age – morning and evening (brushing before bedtime being the most important) – using only water or fluoride-free toothpaste. Go easy! A baby's gums can be particularly sensitive during teething.
The CDA also recommends scheduling a dental appointment within six months of the first tooth appearing, or, around one year of age. This initial visit lets the dentist examine your child before a dental problem might arise. If your child is deemed to be at risk of developing cavities, the dentist may suggest using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste2.
Why bother brushing your baby's baby teeth?
We all know that baby teeth will eventually fall out (that’s when the Tooth Fairy makes an appearance), so why is it so important to still take care of those teeth? Here’s why: Those baby teeth serve as guides for the ensuing adult teeth, providing them with the required space to emerge in the right spot.
A cavity could cause a baby tooth to fall out too early, which could result in a loss of space for the permanent tooth. And untreated decay can infect the permanent tooth that is forming under the gum line3.
10 tips to help your child effectively brush their teeth
You can start teaching your child how to brush their teeth just like a grown-up does when the child is between three and six years of age, all the while continuing to supervise the exercise. Here are 10 tips that will make the job both easier and more enjoyable.
1. Show them the proper technique
Start by showing your child how to properly place their kids’ or baby toothbrush in their mouth. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth, with the bristles below the gum line at the teeth’s base. Brush in circular motions. Don’t rub too hard so as not to risk damaging the enamel and gums. Use the end of the brush for the front teeth.
2. Learn how to spit like an athlete (well, maybe not quite like that…)
What seems obvious to us as adults is not necessarily quite so obvious to children! Explain to your child that it’s important to spit when their mouth is full of toothpaste: Even if toothpaste tastes good, it’s not candy.
Pro tip: Why not make a game out of it? Whoever gets closest to the sink’s drain wins! Your sink – and your mirror – are bound to stay cleaner.
3. Teach them how to count to five
What’s so special about “five”? Teeth are divided into four quadrants, plus the tongue! The first quadrant is the upper-right part of the mouth; the second, the upper-left part; the third, the lower-right part; and the fourth, the lower-left part.
Ensure your child brushes each area for about 30 seconds, then finish the job with a quick brush of the tongue!
4. “Sing, sing a song… Sing out loud… Sing out strong.”
To “bribe” your child into conceding to brush their teeth for two minutes (the recommended amount of time), sing or play their favourite song. You can even go next-level by incorporating choreography if your child is good at multitasking. ;)
5. Make it a family affair
Everyone into the bathroom! Our days are so jam-packed that family time is increasingly rare. Make toothbrushing a parent-child activity. Remember that your cherished little ones are watching you, and there's no better way to set an example.
6. Let them choose their own toothpaste and kids’ toothbrush
Take your small fry on a road trip to the pharmacy and let them choose their own kids’ toothbrush and toothpaste. Fruity toothpaste flavours – like mango, blueberry and watermelon – don’t “burn” (as children might say).
Beginning at three years of age, children can start using a small amount of toothpaste with fluoride (about the size of a pea). Sodium fluoride is recommended by the CDA and Health Canada to prevent and eliminate tooth decay: This article has more information about this ingredient.
7. Get their favourite toys in on the act
Why not brush the teeth of their favourite dolls or stuffed animals? Toys must adhere to a dental hygiene routine too, you know!
8. “Brush up” (sorry, couldn’t resist) on books on the subject
There are lots of entertaining books on every aspect of a child's development, including brushing their teeth. Find one that’s full of fun pictures and read it to your kids while they’re taking their bath or immediately thereafter to get them ready for the next step in their bedtime routine.
9. Flattery will get you everywhere
Give kudos for a job well done. “Wow! Look how clean and white your teeth are!” or “Well done! You brushed your teeth just like a grown-up!" Positive reinforcement motivates children to do what they’re capable of doing, and increases the likelihood that the desired behaviour will be repeated.
10. Create a reward system
If, despite all your best efforts, your child continues to do anything and everything to avoid brushing their teeth, try introducing a reward system. Place a calendar near the sink and stick gold stars on it every time your child brushes their teeth.
Once they collect 14 stickers (i.e., two per day for a week), offer up a reward… but, please: no sweets.
When can a child start brushing their teeth on their own?
Around six years of age: That’s when a child has developed the necessary dexterity necessary to brush their teeth without needing help from a parent. To put that into context, that’s also when they tend to learn how to write their name correctly.
However many of these 10 tips you opt to use, make sure to emphasize to your children the importance of brushing their teeth properly with their kids’ toothbrush and try to make the toothbrushing experience as pleasant and as fun as possible.
Sometimes even minor variations, like switching from cold water to lukewarm water or changing the flavour of the toothpaste can make all the difference in the world.
Are you interested in delving deeper into this subject? Then here are five benefits of vegan toothpaste!
Sources:
- https://www.cda-adc.ca/fr/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/cleaning.asp
- https://www.cda-adc.ca/fr/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/first_visit.asp
- https://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/nouvelles/2017/12/29/20171229-8-questions-brossage-dents-tout-petits/