It is important to teach kids about proper brushing techniques so that they can establish good oral care from a young age. When they learn these habits early, they will have a positive attitude towards dental care and it will protect them from cavities and gum disease.
Starting early is very important
When it comes to introducing oral hygiene practices to your children. You can gently wipe your baby’s gums using a clean and damp cloth. This is something that you can do before their first teeth appear. When their teeth start coming in, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush that is designed for infants with a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste. You need to make brushing a part of their daily routine so that they become familiar with it and are comfortable with the process. You can take them to their first dental appointment once their first tooth comes in. You can choose a children’s dentist Cleveland for this. They will help you find the right oral care products for infants and the right techniques for oral care. You have to look for ways to make brushing fun. By making it an enjoyable experience, you can encourage children to take an interest in their oral hygiene. If they have a favourite colour or a character, you can select a toothbrush that features this. You can also choose toothpaste with appealing flavours for kids.
The brushing routine can have games or songs so that the process is more engaging.
There are many videos you can use to entertain and educate them when they are brushing teeth. You can even find mobile apps that do the same. Children are experts at learning by watching and imitating others. So you need to demonstrate the proper brushing techniques by brushing your own teeth in front of them. Maybe this is something that you can do together with your child. Both of you can brush at the same time and it can be a bonding activity. You need to show them that you are brushing with gentle circular motions and that all surfaces of teeth are brushed. You need to tell them the importance of brushing teeth at least two minutes and that they should be brushing twice a day. Make sure to encourage them when they try to imitate the same movements.
Children when they are young will not have the dexterity to brush effectively.
You need to supervise them and help when needed. If your child is under the age of six, you will need to oversee it or brush their teeth for them when needed. You can allow them more independence as they develop better motor skills. You need to use the correct amount of toothpaste as well. If the child is under three years old, just a smear of fluoride toothpaste is enough. This will be similar to the size of a rice grain. From three to six years, you can select a pea sized amount of toothpaste.