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Professional dentists and practices like TMJ Dentistry want your children to have healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. As parents, you can begin teaching your children about the importance of good dental hygiene even before their first tooth arrives. Here are some great tips to help parents introduce their children to taking care of their teeth and gums. 1. Start from the Beginning
You can start to establish a regular tooth care program even before your child has teeth. Begin by wiping your baby's gums (and later any erupting teeth) with a soft wet cloth or gauze after meals. This will help get rid of any food particles and bacteria that stick to your baby's erupting teeth and gums and make for a healthier mouth once their teeth really start to come in. 2. When to Start Brushing
The best time to start brushing your child's teeth is between the ages of 12 to 18 months. Using a soft child-size tooth brush, gently brush your child's tiny teeth with water. When the molars start to arrive, make sure you brush back there too, because that is where most of the food gets lodged. 3. Introducing Toothpaste
Once your child has reached the age of 3 years, you can add a tiny amount of toothpaste to your child's toothbrush. Use about a pea-sized amount, and make sure the toothpaste has fluoride in it. You can show your child how to spit out the toothpaste by giving them a small cup of water to sip between brushings. 4. Quality Over Quantity
Most dentists will tell you that you should spend about three minutes brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing for this long may not be very easy for young children, as their attention spans lead them away after only a few short moments. However, it is very important that you try to keep your children brushing their teeth for as long as possible. Quality brushing is much more important than quantity brushing. Do the best you can with your children, and just try to make sure all the surfaces are being brushed. 5. Put Them in Charge
Your children should be able to brush their own teeth with adult supervision once they reach the age of 4 years. You should watch closely as they brush and make sure they are also getting those hard-to-reach teeth in the back. Most dentists advise parents to watch their children brush their teeth at least until the age of 8 years. After every bedtime cleaning, it is a good idea to check your child's teeth to make sure they are clean. If necessary, parents should follow up and brush those teeth that were not thoroughly cleaned. 6. Keep a Regular Routine
One of the most important aspects to teaching your children healthy dental hygiene is to keep them on an easy to follow brushing routine. Your children should be brushing three times a day, or at least in the morning and at bedtime. It is especially important to brush at bedtime, because the saliva or jaw movements that you make during the day are not working at night to help sweep away food particles. 7. Proper Brushing Techniques
There is a proper technique to use when brushing your teeth, whether you are a child or an adult. When you watch your child brush, make sure they are using this technique. Use up and down, and circular strokes that focus on the tooth and gum line, as well as getting into hard to reach back teeth. Spend at least three minutes doing these brush strokes every time you brush your teeth.
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