Teaching Your Child to Brush & Floss

Did you know that your child’s baby teeth help guide the permanent teeth into their correct positions? Did you know that if a baby tooth is lost too soon, issues can arise? Because of this, it is so important that you teach your child to brush and floss their teeth daily early on. Also, you should brush and floss their teeth for them until they can clean their teeth on their own.

Tooth Brushing
Before the age of two, use a rice-sized amount of toothpaste that is safe to swallow. After the age of two, use about a pea-sized drop of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to brush his or her teeth for two minutes. Make sure that your child brushes every surface of every tooth and that he or she spits out the toothpaste when they finish. Your child should brush his or her teeth at least twice a day.

Flossing
Flossing is also important for your child’s dental health, so it is important to start early. As soon as your child has two teeth that are beside each other, you should begin flossing them. To floss your child’s teeth, either stand behind him or her or sit with your child in your lap, facing a mirror. When your child starts flossing on their own, you may want to supervise them until he or she learns proper technique.

We invite you to contact Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics today to learn more and to schedule your child’s appointment with Drs. Koehler, Soria, and Padmanabhan. Our pediatric dentists in Manchester, Connecticut, look forward to getting to know you and your family!