BRUSHING YOUR CHILD'S TEETH

Regular tooth brushing is as important for your child’s tooth as it is for your own.

But there are quite a couple of problems parents face when they try to make their kids brush.

WHEN TO BEGIN BRUSHING?

Tooth brushing should be started as soon as the first tooth erupts which is, usually at the age of 6 months start cleaning your child’s teeth & gums with a soft cloth dipped in warm water/a rubber massage sleeve on your finger or a small soft tooth brush without using a toothpaste, till the age of 1 .5 year twice a day - in the

morning & before going to bed at night.

HOW TO BRUSH?

When the child is 1.5 year old it is time to incorporate a pea sized pediatric toothpaste on a

tooth brush till the age of 6 years.

When the kid is young & cannot brush their teeth on their own, you have to do it for them.

Follow some guidelines:

 Make the child sit on your lap facing away from you or stand behind taller children.

 Till the child’s head back so that is leans against your body so that you can see all the

surfaces of the teeth.

 With a pea sized toothpaste for children older than 1.5 year on a small soft tooth brush,

start brushing in gentle circles to clean the outer & inner sides of teeth with bristles

directed towards the gums.

 Brush back & forth on the chewing surfaces of teeth.

 Take short breaks & encourage the child to spit to make sure he/she doesn’t ingest the

toothpaste.

 Make sure they rinse their mouth thoroughly with water.

Replace the toothbrush every 3-4 months or when the bristles get torn or frayed out.

Make your children come to a Dentist every 6 months as soon as they turn one.