When should you teach your baby to brush their teeth? Building a habit of brushing teeth for children is not a simple task for many parents. But how to make brushing teeth never become a nightmare for children? When should you teach your baby to brush their teeth? In this article, BeamDental will guide you through a few simple tips to help build a habit of brushing teeth for your child.
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When should you teach your baby to brush their teeth?
When should you teach your baby to brush their teeth? This is a common question asked by parents when their child is past the age of brushing teeth. Experts recommend that you teach your child to brush teeth as soon as the first baby tooth appears, which is at 6 months of age. At this time, when the child is still very weak, parents should use a soft, damp gauze or a small, wet toothbrush for easy cleaning.
In addition, you can also buy tongue swabs sold at dental stores to clean your baby’s teeth yourself. You should clean your teeth twice a day, in the morning after waking up and at night before going to bed.
Timelines for dental care for children
You can let your child brush their teeth at the right time with appropriate brushing methods:
For infants
When the baby has just grown the first tooth, the mother also needs to use a clean towel dipped in warm salt water to easily clean the baby’s gums every day. In the beginning, the baby does not need to use toothpaste.
For babies from 4 to 7 months old
When the first tooth starts to appear, you can brush your baby’s teeth twice a day and use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Note, only use a dot of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. At this stage, your baby does not need to know how to rinse or floss.
For babies from 8 to 12 months old
When your baby is 1 year old, or within 6 months of the last tooth growing, it is time for you to start taking your baby to the dentist for a dental check-up and treatment. As soon as your baby has 2 teeth close together, you can start flossing once a day.
See more: Signs of teething fever in children? 4 signs and treatment
For children aged 1-2 years old
Continue to train your child to brush their teeth twice a day. If your child is not used to brushing their teeth yet, let them practice brushing their teeth and do it under your guidance. Once your child is proficient, you can help them with the areas that are left empty or that they forgot to brush, and then guide them to brush their teeth if necessary.
For children around 3 years old
Start with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. If your child doesn’t like the taste of the toothpaste they’re using, try a more child-friendly brand. When you think your child is ready, start teaching them how to rinse their mouth and then brush their teeth.
For children aged 6-8 years old
At this age, many babies can brush their teeth by themselves and use dental floss skillfully. However, parents should not monitor their children or brush their teeth with them for easy guidance and sampling. Brush your teeth in a way that includes all 3 surfaces inside, outside and chewing. Each brushing session should last 3-5 minutes, at least twice a day, morning and night, or best after each meal.
For children around 10 years old
Congratulations, your child is now able to brush his or her own teeth. From the age of 12 and up, when they have all their permanent teeth, parents should pay attention to using dental floss with their children to keep their teeth clean. At the same time, avoid letting your child eat too much fatty and starchy foods. Instead, provide more fiber and calcium in the diet to help your child’s teeth function more effectively.
See more: Causes of tooth sensitivity and 5 effective ways to reduce tooth sensitivity at home
Tips to help children brush their teeth properly
According to experts, when children are interested and want to brush their teeth properly, parents need to give specific instructions and set an example for their children to imitate. Parents should be patient and let their children get used to it slowly, without forcing or threatening them.
In addition, parents need to create a fun atmosphere and have lively games to help children enjoy brushing their teeth. You should brush your teeth with your children and buy tubes of toothpaste with scents or colorful toothbrushes with cute shapes.
In addition, parents can refer to some small and effective tips to help children brush their teeth properly that many parents have successfully implemented. For example:
- Place a high chair so that your child can sit within reach of the toilet mirror and brush their teeth with your child.
- Take your child with you to show them how to choose the type of toothbrush and toothpaste they want, you can buy 2-3 to use every day.
- Hang pictures of children brushing their teeth or pictures of cavities. .. on the bathroom ceiling and show it to your child. Tell your child that if he brushes his teeth, he will be beautiful and eat well right away, but if he doesn’t brush his teeth, he will have cavities and look ugly like in the picture.
- Regularly play cartoon videos with characters brushing their teeth for your child to listen and follow along.
- Organize a writing contest so your child can brush his teeth in a certain way and give a small reward, such as when going to a water park.
If your child refuses to brush his teeth, you can do the opposite, brush and eat the things he chews every day. ice cream: “This tooth eats fish, this tooth swallows meat, this tooth chews vegetables, this tongue licks water. ..” Or maybe “Brush this tooth so the worm can crawl out, brush the other tooth so the worm can’t get in. ..” Do this for a few days, and your child will learn to brush his teeth easily and enthusiastically without depending on you anymore.
Brush your child’s teeth while he or she is relaxing, such as watching TV, to help him or her get used to the way the toothbrush works and the taste of toothpaste.
Notes on oral care for 2-year-old children
Some daily eating habits also have a significant impact on children’s oral health. Therefore, parents should pay attention to the following:
- Do not let children eat these things, especially candy and fast food that contain a lot of chemical sugar.
- Limit bottle feeding when children are used to breast milk, to prevent broken teeth.
- Instruct children to rinse their mouths after bottle feeding to remove food particles in the oral cavity.
- Supplementing foods rich in calcium will help children’s teeth become stronger.
- Take children for regular dental check-ups
We have just addressed the common question: When should you teach your baby to brush their teeth?. At BeamDental, we take every measure to ensure that your orthodontic treatment is not only effective but also enhances your facial aesthetics. With our experienced team, modern equipment, and personalized care, you can trust that your braces experience will be smooth and successful. When you choose BeamDental, you’ll leave with a smile that you’re proud to show off, completely satisfied with the quality of service and the results we deliver.
See more: 6+ signs of teething in your baby
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