Oral Care

Let Me Show You How to Brush

It is definitely not an easy job to teach your child how to brush.  Most adults hate brushing their teeth, but as a parent you have to teach your child how to do it, if you want him to develop good dental habits and have healthy teeth.

Till the age of five or six, a child does not have the dexterity to use a toothbrush, and that too in a right way.  Your child will certainly not like you brushing his teeth, but if you don’t, the plaque in the mouth just increases, which in turn leads to bacteria formation and then harm the teeth.  And then the fact remains that the plaque bacteria acts much faster towards tooth decay in children than adults.

You as a parent have to try several tricks to try and get your child to brush his teeth.  Just make it look as if it is a lot of fun.  Present it to the child like an activity in which the whole family participates with a lot of enjoyment, noise and laughter, and the kid thinks that he is missing out on something.  Just make him hold a toothbrush in his hand with toothpaste and show the circular movements that he should use to brush his teeth.  Take care to use a small amount of toothpaste, because too much foam will hinder the child from brushing.

Also, teach your child to spit out the toothpaste, because it can lead to fluorosis which causes spots to appear on the child’s teeth.  Use kid’s toothpaste for your child, because toothpaste for adults may have a harsh flavoring.  It is not advisable to use an electric toothbrush for a child right in the beginning; it can be introduced at a later age.

If you are using a mouthwash after every brush, don’t use it in front of your child, because it is harmful for children.  Often they have strong flavors and contain alcohol, and if the child swallows it, it can be a cause of concern.