How to Teach Children Good Brushing Techniques: Tips for Parents

It is really important to teach children good oral hygiene habits early on to give them strong, bright and cavity free teeth. One of the most common chronic illnesses among-st young children is tooth decay. Whilst children love eating sugary foods, fruit juices and sticky foods they often lack the coordination to clean their teeth properly. Teaching your children how to brush their teeth properly will protect their health and boost their confidence.

Teaching young children to brush their teeth can often be a battle but by making it fun and a routine your children will look forward to brushing their teeth everyday. This detailed guide will give you clear steps, easy techniques and tricks to teach your children how to brush properly.

Why Teaching Good Brushing Techniques Early is Important

Primary teeth (baby teeth) are very important for your children. Some parents think that primary teeth are not important however they are very important to set up your child’s future dental health.

Space Holder – Primary teeth help keep space in your jaw bone for your adult teeth. If your child loses a baby tooth early due to severe decay then their neighboring teeth will move into the gap causing misalignment when their adult teeth come through.
Proper Speech – Children will have healthy front teeth to produce the correct sounds when speaking.
Good Nutrition – Young children will struggle to eat fresh vegetables, fruits and wholesome foods due to severe tooth ache. By having healthy teeth children will be able to eat a balanced diet.
Prevent Painful Infections – Left untreated cavities in baby teeth will quickly travel deep into the nerve causing severe pain, infections and expensive trips to the dentist.

How to Teach Your Children How to Brush Their Teeth

Teaching your children the correct motion will help them remove food and sticky plaque.

Angle – Show your children how to angle the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against their gum line.
Small Circles – Show your children how to brush in small gentle circles. Using too much force when brushing backwards and forwards can irritate their sensitive gums and cause wear.
Front and Back – Guide your child to brush the front and back of all their top and bottom teeth. Move slowly from one side of the mouth to the other.
Inside – Turn the brush upright and gently brush the inside of your child’s front teeth.
Flat – Hold the brush flat and gently brush the flat surface of the back molars. Use small gentle strokes.
Tongue – Show your child how to gently brush their tongue from back to front. This helps remove any leftover bacteria and keeps their breath fresh.

Brush For Two Minutes Twice a Day

The recommended amount of time to brush your teeth is 2 minutes twice a day. This should be done once in the morning after breakfast and once before bed.

Quadrants – Split your mouth into 4 sections. Top right, top left, bottom right and bottom left. Ask your children to spend 30 seconds on each section.
Sand Timer – Place a simple 2 minute sand timer on the bathroom counter. Children love watching the colorful sand trickle down.
Song – Play your child’s favorite upbeat song on your phone whilst they brush. Ask them to brush until the song has finished.
Brush Before Bed – Make sure they brush before bed. Saliva levels drop significantly when sleeping so if there are any food particles left on their teeth they will be at risk of acid producing bacteria.

Choosing the Right Tools

By using the correct tools your children will find brushing their teeth much easier.

Soft Bristles – Always choose a toothbrush with soft or extra soft bristles. Hard bristles will irritate their sensitive gums.
Small Head – Choose a toothbrush with a small head. This will fit nicely in their small mouth and reach the back molars.
Thick Handles – Look for a toothbrush with thick rubber handles. This will give your toddler or young child a firm grip whilst brushing.
Electric Toothbrush – An electric toothbrush with sonic vibrations or rotating heads will help remove plaque. Many electric toothbrushes for children have a 2 minute timer built in and fun characters.

Using the Correct Amount of Toothpaste

Using the correct amount of fluoridated toothpaste will help protect your children’s teeth.

Under 3 – As soon as the first baby tooth has appeared through their gums you should start brushing their teeth twice daily. Use a very small amount of fluoridated toothpaste. No larger than a grain of rice.
3-6 – Slightly increase the amount of toothpaste. Use a small pea sized amount twice daily. Constantly remind your children to spit out the excess toothpaste.
6+ – Your children can use a full pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. They will have matured swallowing reflexes and will be able to rinse and spit.
Flavor – Traditional mint toothpastes can cause a burning sensation in your children’s mouths. Choose mild toothpastes such as strawberry, watermelon or bubblegum.

Fun Ways to Make Brushing Fun

If your children are reluctant to brush their teeth try making it fun.

Sugar Monsters – Tell your children there are little invisible sugar bugs living on their teeth. Tell them where they are hiding and ask them to use their magical brush to shoo them away.
Brush With Them – Children love copying their parents. Brush your teeth with your child whilst standing in front of the mirror.
Let Them Choose – Take your child to the shop and let them choose their own toothbrush and flavor of toothpaste. Let them pick their favorite cartoon character or color to make them feel like they own their routine.
Create a Reward Chart – Put up a colorful chart in the bathroom. Let your children put a fun sticker on each time they brush for 2 minutes without complaining. Give them a small non food reward such as an extra bedtime story when they have collected a weeks worth of stickers.

How to Deal With Reluctance

Often parents will encounter some reluctance when trying to get their children to brush their teeth. Being patient and consistent will help you succeed.

Be Consistent – Try to brush your children’s teeth at the same time everyday. If they know they need to brush their teeth everyday like putting their shoes on or getting into bed they will become less reluctant.
Give Them Options – Give your children a sense of control by giving them simple options. Ask them if they want to brush in the big bathroom or small bathroom? Or if they want to brush their top or bottom teeth first?
Two Parent/Hug Method – If your toddler is being difficult sit on the floor and gently place their head in your lap. This will allow you to see inside their mouth and keep their hands secure whilst brushing.
Stay Calm – Don’t make brushing a battle. Speak calmly and give lots of praise.

How to Get Your Children to Brush Independently

Although young children love to do things by themselves they lack the fine motor skills to fully clean their teeth until they are around 8.

My Turn, Your Turn – Let your children brush their teeth first to practice their motor skills. Once they have finished say “Well done! Now it is my turn to clean the spots you missed.” This will fully clean their teeth.
Handwriting – A good rule of thumb is if they cannot tie their own shoelaces or write neatly in cursive they will lack the hand skills to brush their teeth.
Spot Check – As your children get older and brush their teeth independently still spot check. Check the back molars and gum lines to make sure there isn’t any plaque building up.

Other Healthy Habits

Brushing twice a day is the main part of daily oral hygiene however combining it with other healthy habits will fully protect your child’s smile.

Start Flossing – As soon as 2 teeth touch start flossing between their teeth. Use easy to hold floss picks made for children to remove any food stuck between their tight teeth.
Eat Healthily – Give your children fresh vegetables, crunchy apples, plain cheese, yogurt and lean proteins. Eating calcium rich foods will strengthen enamel and crunchy fruits/vegetables will stimulate saliva.
Avoid Sugary Drinks and Sticky Foods – Limit your children from drinking fizzy drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks, chewy fruits and sticky sweets. If they do eat any sugary foods encourage them to drink plain water straight after.
Drink Tap Water – Fluoridated tap water will give your children a good base level of protection. Every time they drink it will bio-mineralize any weak enamel.

Working With Your Pediatric Dentist

Getting your children to the dentist will help you and create a positive relationship with dental.

First Appointment – Take your children to the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. This will help them get used to the dental environment and avoid them becoming scared of the dentist.
Every 6 Months – Book regular appointments every 6 months. This will help your dentist spot any early signs of decay, check their jaw growth and clean any hard to reach tartar.
Ask About Sealants – Ask your pediatric dentist about sealants. This is a thin layer of plastic paint applied to the deep grooves of permanent molars. This will help prevent food getting stuck and reduce up to 80% of cavities.
Fluoride Varnish – Let your dentist apply fluoride varnish. This is a quick and painless treatment which will strengthen young enamel and reverse early micro decay.

Daily Checklist

Brush your children’s teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. Once after breakfast and once before bed.
Use a soft bristled toothbrush with a small head.
Use a grain of rice sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children under 3.
Use a pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children aged 3-6.
Teach your children to brush in small gentle circles at a 45 degree angle.
Brush all surfaces of their teeth.
Floss between any touching teeth using floss picks made for children. Do this every evening.
Supervise your children whilst they brush until they are at least 8.
Limit sugary snacks, juices and sticky sweets.
Book regular preventative appointments with your pediatric dentist every 6 months.

FAQ’s

What if my toddler swallows fluoridated toothpaste?

If your toddler swallows a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste (the recommended rice/pea sized amount) there is nothing to worry about. To avoid them swallowing too much always supervise whilst they brush, keep the toothpaste out of their reach and encourage them to spit out the excess foam as soon as possible.

When Should My Child Start Using an Electric Toothbrush?

Your children can start using an electric toothbrush from the age of 3. Make sure you choose a toothbrush specifically for children with a small head and soft bristles. Electric toothbrushes make brushing fun, have built in timers and will help clean plaque effectively whilst your children are still developing their manual dexterity.

Why Are My Child’s Gums Bleeding? Should We Stop?

Bleeding gums usually means your child has gingivitis. This is an early stage of inflamed gums caused by plaque getting stuck along their gum line. Don’t stop brushing. Continue to gently brush twice a day with a soft bristled brush and floss daily. As you remove the bacteria their inflammation will reduce and their gums will stop bleeding completely within a week or two.

How Do I Know If My Child is Brushing For Long Enough?

Most young children will over estimate how long they have been brushing. Often stopping after 30 seconds. Use a visual sand timer, smartphone timer, toothbrush app with fun animations or play a 2 minute song to let them know when they have finished.

Teaching your children good brushing techniques takes time, patience and consistency but will help give them a lifetime of healthy smiles. Using the correct sized tools for your children, showing them gentle circular techniques, making it fun with songs and rewards and supervising until they are 8 will help your children feel confident to look after their teeth. Combined with smart home care, healthy eating and regular 6 monthly appointments your children will be given the priceless gift of a strong, healthy and bright smile. Book your child’s next appointment today.