Instilling good oral hygiene habits in your children at a young age is crucial for sustaining optimal levels of oral heath over their lifetime. This process starts by teaching them proper brushing techniques in the first few years of their life.
Dr. Khavari believes that patient education is a crucial component to the children’s dentistry services she offers. During your child’s first few visits to our East Houston office, she’ll advise you as to the best ways to help your child develop and maintain proper brushing habits. The following tips can also provide you with a good guide when helping your children brush their teeth:
- Try to make brushing their teeth an enjoyable experience for your children instead of another chore they have to do. You can do this by getting creative with the brushing process, such as by playing music or making a game out of how clean they can get their teeth. You can also regularly reward them for good brushing practices by giving them new toothbrushes in their favorite colors or that feature their favorite characters.
- If your child is struggling to hold the toothbrush properly, put the handle inside a tennis ball to make it easier to grip. You can also try strapping the toothbrush handle to your child’s hand using a rubber band or a hair band. In some instances, you may be able to find a children’s toothbrush with a thicker handle that will be easier to grip.
- When teaching your child how to brush, break the process down into small steps that are easy to understand and remember. If your child is struggling to follow these steps, you can place your hand over your child’s in order to guide the toothbrush and model the proper brushing motion.
- Always choose a toothpaste flavor that your child likes. Most pharmacies will carry a variety of toothpastes in kid-friendly flavors. In addition, make sure you choose a toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Place the toothpaste on the toothbrush for your child to ensure the proper amount is used. For children under the age of 3, use a small dab of toothpaste that is approximately the size of a grain of rice. For children ages 3-6, use a pea-size amount of toothpaste.
- To ensure your child brushes for the full two minutes, use a timer or play a short two-minute song. This will make the time pass more quickly, and your child will eventually internalize the appropriate length of time to brush.
- Teach your child the importance of brushing immediately after eating, or following the consumption of sugary drinks.
- Turn a lapse in proper brushing habits into a teachable moment. While getting a cavity is never fun, this can become an excellent opportunity to reinforce the importance of maintaining proper brushing habits with your child.
Please contact Love Brushing Dentistry using the form on this page or call 713-659-0841 today to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist. Dr. Khavari serves patients in Pasadena, Baytown, Channelview and throughout East Houston.
