Oral Hygiene
Brushing and Flossing Instructions
Oral Hygiene plays a critical role in preventing cavities for children. Tooth brushing should occur twice daily and flossing one time daily for most children. Both children and adults should use brushes with soft, rounded bristles for gentle cleaning. Tooth brushes should be changed every three months or after any period of illness.
Click here for an interactive video regarding Brushing and Flossing.
An infant’s teeth may be cleaned gently with a moist soft cloth or infant tooth brush. After every feeding, wipe the baby’s gum tissue to remove residual food and help the child grow accustomed to having this mouth examined. You should begin this oral hygiene routine shortly after birth. As your child’s teeth erupt, brush them gently with a child’s size soft toothbrush and water. Brush the teeth of children over the age of 2 with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. By age 2 or 3 you child by begin wanting to brush on their own. It is still very important to assist your child with brushing and flossing at least until the age of 6 years.
Hold the brush at an angle (45 degrees) towards teeth and gums. Move brush back and forth with short strokes, about a half tooth wide.
- Brush the inside and outside surfaces of each tooth, top and bottom
- Hold the brush flat on top of the teeth and brush the chewing surfaces
- Floss between teeth daily
When to begin brushing?
Once your child’s teeth begin erupting, you can begin cleaning them by wiping them with a moist washcloth. As your child gets more teeth, you can begin to use a soft child’s toothbrush. You should use just a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste or a non-fluoride toothpaste until your child is able to spit it out.
For most toddlers, getting them to brush their teeth can be quite a challenge.
Some suggestions for making tooth brushing less of a battle can include:
- Establish a “tooth brushing routine”
- Letting your child brush your teeth at the same time
- Letting him pick out a few toothbrushes with his favorite characters and giving him a choice of which one he wants to use each time (this will give him some feeling of control over the situation)
- Let him brush his own teeth first (you will likely have to “help out”)
- Read some children’s books about tooth brushing
- Have everyone brush their teeth at the same time
Adolescence and oral care
There is evidence that demonstrates how periodontal disease may increase during adolescence due to lack of motivation to practice routine oral hygiene. Children who maintain good oral health habits up until the teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care.
Tips for parents
Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is important that children receive a periodontal examination as part of their routine dental visits. Be aware that if your child has an advanced form of periodontal disease, this may be an early sign of systemic disease. A general medical evaluation should be considered for children who exhibit severe periodontitis, especially if it appears resistant to therapy.
An important step in the fight against periodontal disease is to establish good oral health habits with your child.
Establish good oral health habits early. When your child is 12 months old, you can begin using toothpaste when brushing his or her teeth. However, only use a pea-sized portion on the brush and press it into the bristles so your child won’t eat it. When the spacing between your child’s teeth begins to close, it is important to start flossing.
Serve as a good role model by practicing good oral health care habits yourself. Be sure to maintain regular cleaning and exam visits.
Schedule regular dental visits for family checkups, periodontal evaluations and cleanings.
Check your child’s mouth for the signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums, gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.
If your child currently has poor oral health habits, work with your child to change these now. It’s much easier to modify these habits in a child than in an adult. Since your child models behavior after you, it follows that you should serve as a positive role model in your oral hygiene habits. A healthy smile, good breath and strong teeth all contribute to a young person’s sense of personal appearance, as well as confidence and self-esteem.