Your child’s oral hygiene begins in infancy by wiping his or her gums with a clean, soft washcloth and must continue throughout their life to prevent issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and jawbone deterioration. If it’s time to start teaching your child how to brush on their own, use these tips to streamline the process. Remember, it may take a little patience, but it’s worth it since you are instilling healthy habits your child will use always.

How to Teach Your Child to Brush Their Teeth

1. Be a Great Example

Demonstrate the importance of oral hygiene by brushing your teeth in front of your child. Sit on a stool if necessary to get down on your child’s level as you brush your teeth from top to bottom and front to back. Show how you make circles over your teeth as you go and explain what you’re doing in ways the young one will understand, such as “washing” your teeth to protect them from “sugar monsters.”

2. Use Toys & Books

Work with any of the many children’s books available on oral hygiene, such as Teeth Rex Brushes His Teeth or I Love To Brush My Teeth. Ask your child about what’s on each page as you go to further emphasize the importance of brushing teeth correctly. There are also many toys to help you drive home proper tooth brushing, such as plush dinosaurs that come with toothbrushes.

3. Allow the Child to Choose the Toothbrush & Paste

Keep your child’s newfound interest in tooth brushing up by letting the little one choose their toothbrush and toothpaste. Toothbrushes for children are not only sized to fit small mouths comfortably, but they also come in a range of colors and designs, including those featuring cartoon characters. Kids’ toothpaste comes in plenty of fruity flavors to help your child view brushing as a fun activity instead of a chore.

4. Always Use Positive Reinforcement

Accentuate the positive to make it clear that brushing is as important to oral hygiene as it is fun. Compliment your child when they brush using the correct form or for the proper amount of time. If they experience any issues, it’s still important to focus on what they did well and review what could use improvement, such as spitting periodically to avoid too much foam in the mouth at once.

If you’re looking for a family dentistry practice in Summerville or Fairmount, GA, to help teach your child the importance of oral hygiene, call Dr. Richard R. Miller Jr. DDS today. The renowned dentist offers a wide variety of services, including routine checkups, cosmetic dentistry treatments, and root canal therapy, and the practice always provides the friendly, highly personalized service patients deserve. Contact the Summerville office at (706) 857-4741 or the Fairmount office at (706) 337-3347 to schedule an appointment. Visit the dentist online for more information.