Things To Help Your Kids With During Brushing

Posted February 18, 2019

When you’re still sitting in on brushing sessions with your children, you get to see how they’re doing! It’s always thrilling to watch on as they develop better and better skills. Along the way, though, you may notice a little issue or two, for which we suggest you offer kind reminders. Remember, it’s not just about getting through anything that happens to resemble a brushing session but about tweaking the details until your kiddo know how to thoroughly cleanse that grin! Consider some simple yet significant things our Dallas, TX team suggests you watch for as you monitor your child’s dental hygiene!

Brushing Every Tooth

Of course, in order to complete thorough dental hygiene, your child must brush each and every tooth! You may notice that your little one has a habit of just brushing front teeth or only bottom teeth, etc. Offer little reminders to brush all teeth. You may even brush one quadrant at a time together for 30 seconds each for an easier approach to completing a job well done. Set a timer for two minutes and keep an eye on the clock for an easy session. (Note: Remember that reaching back teeth can be difficult for kids, just like it is for grown-ups. Placing dental sealants offers additional protection for extra decay prevention!).

Brushing All Tooth Surfaces

Yes, good, your child is brushing every single tooth! However, take a closer look during dental hygiene sessions together to be sure that in addition to making contact with each tooth, your child is also brushing all surfaces. Perhaps your child mainly brushes visible surfaces. Maybe your son or daughter focuses on chewing surfaces. Point out to your child that there are visible outer surfaces, backs of teeth, chewing surfaces, etc., and walk your way through thorough brushing! (You should brush your tongues, too!).

Brushing Gently With Small Strokes

When you see your child making massive, hard strokes, offer a gentle reminder to make smaller strokes and to brush gently. You can also remind your child that there’s no rush (using a sand timer in such cases is often helpful as a visual representation of the full brushing session time). We remind you that as your child learns to brush gently and with a thorough approach, you can feel more confident that good habits will develop, which will promote healthy, clean smiles!

Angling The Brush

This might prove more difficult with younger children but it is worth mentioning! The goal is for your children to eventually become adept at creating a 45-degree angle with their brush toward their gum tissue for exceptional plaque removal and gum protection. Need a little more help? Just ask during visits.

Gather Hygiene Suggestions During Visits

Remember to ask us for guidance if you have any questions about your child’s brushing. By guiding early brushing and flossing techniques in the early years, your child will more easily develop good lifelong habits! Schedule a visit with your Dallas, TX children’s dentist, Dr. Marr at Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda by calling 214-321-4880. We proudly welcome patients from Dallas, TX, and all surrounding communities, including Casa Linda, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Forest Hills, East Dallas, Mesquite, Garland, Richardson, and more.