Good oral hygiene habits should start as soon as possible. Along with taking your child to the dentist for regular visits, you must also establish good dental care at home. The team at Bellasera Family Dentistry is dedicated to showing kids and parents in Matthews, NC, the proper brushing methods. Here, they share a few tips to make at-home dental care fun and effective.

How to Help Your Kids Properly Brush Their Teeth

1. Sing Happy Birthday

Many people have an issue with brushing for the correct amount of time, which is about two minutes. While setting a timer is helpful, dentists recommend trying to make the process a bit more fun for your kids. To illustrate the proper amount of time that’s easily understandable, try singing happy birthday a few times or play one of their favorite songs for two minutes while they’re brushing.

2. Establish Proper Technique

Technique matters when it comes to dental care. Unfortunately, many people start out with poor brushing techniques in childhood, and these behaviors carry on for life and cause problems later. To prevent this from happening, show your child the proper technique as soon as possible. The brush should be held at a 45-degree angle with the handle gripped tightly. Also, make sure they aren’t brushing too hard, as this can actually damage tooth enamel.  

3. Show How Much Toothpaste to Use

Smaller children should use about a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste to avoid swallowing it. You can apply it to the brush until your child feels comfortable doing it themselves. Also, encourage them to spit out the toothpaste and supervise until you’re confident they will follow instructions.  

Whether you need a routine teeth cleaning or tooth extraction, Bellasera Family Dentistry has the skill and knowledge to provide compassionate dental care for the whole family. Schedule an appointment with a dentist in Matthews by calling (704) 321-7929. Visit the website to learn more about their pediatric dental services.