How to Teach Children to Brush Their Teeth

When Should You Start Caring for Your Baby's Teeth?

It's recommended to start caring for your baby's milk teeth at 6-7 months. Surely you will need neither toothbrush nor toothpaste. You should only wipe your baby's teeth with a piece of cloth or a baby finger toothbrush soaked in boiled water. By the way, if you start caring for milk teeth early, your baby will get used to this procedure and you will avoid problems with brushing teeth in future.

When your baby is one year old, you can start caring for their teeth thoroughly. Try to use a small amount of toothpaste, otherwise your child will swallow much of it. The size of a toothbrush should fit your child's mouth, that is to say it's head should cover not more than two teeth. The toothbrush should be replaced every three months.

Teaching Your Children to Clean Their Teeth

Children can care for their teeth by themselves at 2. It's very important to instill this good habit in your child at a young age not to control your child in future. The demonstration method is considered the best. All family members should show how they brush their teeth and convince the child that brushing is pleasant and entertaining. You can do it at weekend when everybody is at home. Your child will be happy to do something together with adults and will love brushing teeth.

You must tell and show how to clean teeth properly, so this process will be efficient. In order to brush the inside and outside surfaces of the teeth, you should hold a toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and make up-and-down sweeping motions. Brush the chewing surface of teeth, moving your toothbrush back and forth. In order to clean the inside surfaces of front teeth, you should hold your toothbrush vertically and brush from the gum towards the crown of each tooth. You can stop controlling your child's brushing his or her teeth after a while. Just make sure that he or she does it in the right way. Don't forget to teach your child to rinse his or her mouth after eating.

What Should You Do If Children Refuse to Brush Their Teeth?

You child can refuse to brush his or her teeth for a variety of reasons. First, perhaps your child doesn't like the flavor of the toothpaste. That's why you should buy a special toothpaste for children which doesn't contain mint or menthol. Second, brushing can be boring. In this case turn brushing into a game. Buy a cartoon children toothbrush or a “tasty” toothpaste.

As you see, you should teach your children to brush their teeth from an early age. Remember that it will help keep your child's teeth healthy and avoid visiting the dentist more often than necessary.