How to Teach Your Kids Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can teach your children.  Kids need to learn how to properly care for their teeth and gums from a young age.  The best way to impart this knowledge is by teaching them when they are little and reinforcing the message as they continue to grow.

Start With Baby

Parents need to begin taking care of their children’s baby teeth as soon as they start coming in.  For kids under age 3, parents need to perform the care for their babies.  At this young age, oral care is simple.  On babies, use a clean washcloth or oral gauze pad to gently rub the teeth and gums.  Use plain water or a very small amount of children’s toothpaste.  Plan a visit to the dentist after age one.

Toddler Tooth Care

Teach children aged 3 and up to brush their own teeth.  Choose a small sized toothbrush that has soft bristles.  Kids should brush in small circles around all the teeth.  Go to the drugstore and pick out toothpaste that is specially designed for tots.  This toothpaste tastes good, so be sure to teach kids to rinse with water and spit, rather than swallow the toothpaste.  Parents should show kids by demonstrating the activity for them.

Always Supervise

Parents need to supervise the oral hygiene of young kids.  Simply handing them a toothbrush doesn’t guarantee any results.  Create a morning and nighttime routine that includes brushing the teeth right for a set time before going to bed.  Make sure that your little ones are supervised when they brush, to ensure that they’re brushing properly and for a long enough time.  About 3 minutes is the right length of time to brush teeth.  Buy a fun colorful timer and show them how to set it for 3 minutes.

Children’s Oral Hygiene Tips

Children aged 7 and up should be able to brush their teeth solo.  Provide kids with a new toothbrush every 6 months.  To keep kids interested in brushing, allow them to choose their own toothbrush and favorite toothpaste.  Make sure that toothpaste is kid-friendly.  There are many brands and choices to pick from. 

Mouthwash for small children is not recommended, but if your kids want to try it, make sure to choose a brand that is alcohol free, or your kids will find the mouthwash stings their mouth.  This may deter them from using mouthwash when they are older.

Teach children to brush their teeth for at least three minutes.  To ensure this, you can try using a timer or opt for one of the new toothbrushes that have a built-in timer.  Always check your kid’s teeth after they brush to make sure that they’ve done a proper job.  Teach kids over age 7 to floss on a daily basis.  Add an oral rinse to their daily routine to assist in keeping excess food debris from settling in between teeth after meals. 

Prevent Cavities

Parents can help prevent tooth decay and oral disease by supervising their kids dental care routines.  Take children to the dentist twice per year.  To reduce the likelihood of cavities developing, don’t allow kids to drink sweet or sugary drinks at least an hour before bed.  Reduce the amount of sweets kids eat and cut down on sticky, gooey candies that get stuck in teeth.  If the kids must eat candy, get them into the habit of eating a small carrot or apple afterwards to clean their teeth.

Help kids develop good eating habits that will assist in keeping teeth clean and strong.  Replace soda with flavored water or milk to reduce the amount of sugary liquid intake.  Teach kids to chew sugar free gum after eating to help remove food particles if they can’t brush teeth immediately.