Brushing
We recommend that your child uses a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft bristle toothbrush. A soft-bristled toothbrush is not only gentler to your child’s teeth and gums, but it also makes it much easier to remove the plaque below the gum line. It is important to brush after breakfast in order to remove the morning’s food debris that can cause bacteria to form, and before bedtime to protect the teeth during the night.
Until children reach the age of 7, parents should help brush and floss their child’s teeth as children do not have the skills to brush satisfactorily by themselves until that time. To help your child establish good oral hygiene habits, we recommend that parents help brush and floss their child’s teeth once a day (before bedtime) and supervise their child brushing a second time. Children learn from observing so we also recommend that parents set a good example by brushing along with your child. It is important to replace your child’s toothbrush after any illness or when the bristles are worn. Also remind your child that it is not sanitary to share his/her toothbrush with anyone else.
If your child is less than a year old, it is best to clean his/her teeth by placing your child’s head in your lap. If your child is too young for a toothbrush, you can clean the teeth by wiping them with a washcloth. However, once baby teeth appear, begin brushing and begin flossing when any two teeth are touching.
When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Flossing
Most cavities start where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach - between your teeth. Using dental floss at least once a day is the key to removing plaque from between teeth and keeping teeth healthy. To use dental floss, simply guide the floss in between the teeth and move in a side-to-side motion. If you are just beginning to floss your child’s teeth the gums may bleed a bit but should stop in about a week. If the teeth are too tight to floss, please let us know as it may be an indication of a greater problem.
As a parent, it is important to teach your child good oral hygiene habits:
- Limit sweets and sticky foods – remember that any food can cause cavities if you do not brush.
- Bottles and sippy cups allow liquid to remain in contact with the teeth for longer periods of time. We recommend that parents avoid putting liquids such as juice, soda pop, Kool-aid etc. in a bottle or sippy cup. Also, children should not be put to bed with a bottle or cup unless it contain plain water.
- Limit the daily amount of juice for your child to no more than 4 to 6 oz for children 1- 6 years of age.
Studies have found that the bacteria that cause cavities can easily be spread from parent to child. Parents should avoid sharing a toothbrush, putting your child’s pacifier in your mouth or sharing the same utensil with your child. If your child has cavities in his/her baby teeth, it can lead to pain, infection, bleeding and bad breath. Cavities in primary teeth can prevent children from growing, developing normally and cause an infection, which reduces a child’s ability to eat, sleep and learn.