We all know that parents want to look after their kids in the best way possible – but sometimes, brushing their teeth can prove to be a struggle!
So here is: The Definitive Guide to Cleaning Kids Teeth by Method Dental.
0 – 18 Months
- Even before your baby has teeth coming through, you can start to gently clean their gums with a wet
- When their first teeth erupt, usually between 4 and 10 months, you can start to use a small, soft toothbrush
- At this stage, you do not need toothpaste, but it is recommended to clean their teeth twice a day
- Introduce toothpaste around 18 months of age, starting with one of the toothpastes designed for children under the age of 2
- At this age, the right amount of toothpaste to use is the size of a grain of rice
18 months – 3 years
- Begin to use a toothpaste with a higher concentration of fluoride, with ages 2-5 or even 6+ on the box but make sure they don’t swallow the toothpaste
- Make sure they spit out the excess toothpaste, but do not get them to rinse with water
- Use toothpaste the size of a pea
- Be brave in the battle to brush their teeth – it is so important to brush their teeth twice a day or tooth decay may set in!
- You can also introduce tooth floss at this age – or whenever you see two teeth are touching together. Lay your child’s head onto your knees and use a flossette to help you
3 – 7 years
- Upgrade to adult toothpaste if you can, making sure your child does not swallow it and that they spit out the excess thoroughly after brushing
- You can also begin to teach your child how to brush their teeth effectively on their own. That is, brushing with small back and forth, massaging motions, or circles, making sure to brush around the gumline
- both on the outside and inside of the teeth.
- You will still need to brush and floss their teeth during these ages as they will not be able to do a perfect job until around 7 or 8 years of age.
8+ years
Now they’re old enough to take care of their own brushing and flossing! But, continue to supervise and check periodically that they are doing a good job!
And remember to bring your kids to the dentist, every 6 months, to make sure that they are brushing well and cavity-free! We can even show them how to brush their teeth and use plaque-disclosing tablets to show them where they can improve! Click here to find out more about our approach to kid’s dentistry.
If you still have questions about anything to do with cleaning kids teeth, feel free to ask us via email, phone or on any of our social media pages!
Dr. Grant McGrath BDsc
Founder
Method Dental