Brushing your teeth is a key part of good oral hygiene and a bright, happy, and healthy smile. However, that does not mean that brushing your kid’s teeth (or convincing them that it is a good idea) is always easy. From infant to toddler to young child, parents have a long journey of teaching good brushing habits. If you are a new parent looking for first-time tips or searching for the solution to a reluctant brusher, don’t worry. Your favorite pediatric dentist from San Antonio and San Marcos are here to help.
In this ultimate guide for parents, we will cover all the bases when it comes to early brushing habits, so let’s jump right on in and start with a great question. Why do we need to start brushing so early?
Why Brushing Early is SO Important
Do you know what the most common childhood disease is? The answer might surprise you. It’s tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by poor oral hygiene, bad brushing habits, and too-few dentist visits. And it affects over 16 million children every year.
This may sound bad, especially if you are a new or first-time parent looking for guidance. However, understanding your child’s teeth-cleaning routine is the first (and most important) step to a healthy mouth. Taking care of teeth from a young age means that growing up with a strong set of teeth for all your eating, smiling, and speaking needs. Yes, growing up with healthy teeth is important for a healthy mouth and body!
Brushing your teeth prevents plaque build-up, which is the cause of cavities, unhealthy gums, and gingivitis. Children should begin brushing as soon as their first tooth comes in. By brushing early, you are preventing cavities from the beginning as well as promoting life-long healthy dental habits. Your child does not need a full set of teeth to start taking care of them, so don’t wait!
Beginning Your Tooth-Brushing Journey
Many parents are shocked when they go to the dentist for the first time with their child and find out that they are already having dental issues! Problems can crop up as soon as teeth start breaking through the gums, so it is important to have a plan. What should you be doing with your infant’s first little bitty teeth?
Did you know that your baby is born with their primary teeth almost fully-formed? However, it takes a long time for them to fully erupt from the gums. Your baby’s first teeth should start peeking out one at a time once they are about 6 months old. Most babies get their bottom middle teeth (their lower incisors) first. More teeth will start coming in until they have a full set of twenty baby teeth around the age of three.
Taking Care of Tiny Teeth
When teeth first start appearing, use a soft, wet washcloth and gently wipe your baby’s mouth after every time that you feed them. Even before teeth start appearing, you can practice this to help your child get used to the experience. In addition to cleaning after feeding your baby, you should start using a small, soft-bristled toothbrush designed for infants. Use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush twice every day! Just like with adults, you should be brushing after the last food and drink of the day to prevent plaque build-up during sleep.
The sooner you start brushing, the better! Primary, or “baby,” teeth are crucial for learning to talk, eating properly, and getting your kid’s mouth ready for permanent teeth. So, start your journey right with the best practices for good dental health.
What else can we do to put a bright smile to our child’s face? That’s right – go to the dentist!
When to See Your Pediatric Dentist
“When is the right time to bring my baby to the dentist for the first time?” If this is a question you have been asking yourself, then you are not alone! More than a quarter of the children in the United States have had at least one cavity by the time they reach the age of four. Good preventative care starts with the very first tooth, and it starts with regular dental check-ups.
When your baby’s first teeth begin to show, it is an amazing milestone for you as a parent. But it also means that it’s time to learn how to brush your baby’s teeth – and schedule that first dentist appointment. Because most infants begin to show their primary teeth in the first six to ten months, you should plan to meet your dentist before your child is one year old.
Your Baby’s First Visit
If you’re nervous, don’t be. Working with an office like ours means that we will be discussing important topics for parents, but the visit will be gentle, comfortable, and focused on education. Most of the time with the first visit will be spent going over diet, hygiene, fluoride use, and injury prevention as well as discussing how breastfeeding, pacifier use, and thumb sucking can affect your infant as they grow.
When there are teeth showing during your first visit, we also make sure to gently clean them with a soft toothbrush and show parents how to properly brush at home. This part of the visit can be the scariest for infants, but you will be with them every step of the way. If your baby cries during this part of the exam, there is no need to fret. This is perfectly normal!
If you have any questions about what to expect during your baby’s first visit, check out our detailed explanation of what you should expect at any dentist’s office – or contact your dentist to have them walk you through the procedure ahead of time!
The first dentist visit is an important steppingstone for a healthy and happy mouth while your child grows. So, make sure you are comfortable with what to expect for your first appointment. Your baby pays close attention to how you are feeling and will reflect that in their behavior when they get to the dentist!
Finding a Pediatric Dentist in San Antonio, San Marcos, and Other Places
Just like we’ve spoken about before, finding an experienced and professional pediatric dentist is critical to an excellent dental experience as a baby. A great dentist can help take care of your kid’s teeth all through childhood, offer guidance to parents, and ensure that children enjoy the dentist instead of hating it. The key to a confident, beautiful smile is good oral hygiene – and a great dentist.
Three Things to Look for in Your Pediatric Dentist
What makes a great dentist for children? First, you want a dentist who has specialized in pediatric dentistry rather than an adult or family doctor. These dentists, just like our own practices in San Antonio and San Marcos, have additional years of school that they complete to understand your child’s dentition as they grow and develop.
Next, you want to look for a pediatric dentist who is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and other recognized authorities for oral health. As a member of the AAPD, you must show experience, knowledge, and qualification in the field of pediatric dentistry! It’s a good way to make sure that your pediatric dentist is a dental professional.
In addition, you should also make sure that your infant or toddler’s specialized needs can be accommodated at whatever office you go to. This is not just for physical concerns like mobility issues – you should also check if your dentist is experienced handling special health concerns like diabetes or autism. These can also be social needs, like a language barrier. Your dentist will be working with you for a long time, so make sure that they will always take your child’s physical, cognitive, and medical needs into consideration!
Brushing a Toddler’s Teeth – The Right Way
Once your child has reached two years old, they will begin brushing their teeth all by themselves. How exciting! While you should still be supervising your child’s brushing until they are seven or eight, this moment of brushing on their own is important. As a toddler, your child will be setting up correct brushing habits and a routine that will last a lifetime. Healthy habits make happy smiles!
Brushing properly is a big way to take care of little teeth. Follow these important steps to make sure that your small one is getting the most out of every day of brushing!
How to Brush Your Teeth
Brush twice every day. The most important time to brush is before bed once your child has had their last food and drink for the day. However, make sure that they are also brushing in the morning. To make the process easier, avoid times when they are exhausted or upset – don’t wait until right before bed!
Prepare the toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Your little one has little teeth, so they do not need as much toothpaste as you do. This will help prevent them from accidentally swallowing any of the toothpaste.
Find a comfortable position for your toddler. A stepstool is a good way to make sure they are not straining to reach the mirror. Or, you can always have them sit on your lap!
The toothbrush should be positioned so that it is at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line. A gentle circular motion and back and forth motion should cover the full surface of each tooth. We recommend focusing on different sections at a time to make sure that no part of the mouth is neglected! The molars, or back teeth, are the most common culprit for the first cavities, so ensure that your toddler is not just brushing their front teeth.
Spit out the toothpaste after brushing. This can be a difficult step for younger children, but it gets easier as they practice and grow up. Most dentists do not recommend rinsing (since this removes helpful fluoride), but younger kids can rinse with a small amount of water if they are having trouble spitting out excess toothpaste at the end.
Teaching Your Kid to Love Brushing Their Teeth
So, what are the best steps for getting your squirmy, feisty little one to go along with your morning and evening dental ritual? This is the time when your child is most likely to be reluctant to spend the full two minutes brushing their teeth (and doing it properly). However, there are a few ways that parents can make brushing fun and less of a chore for toddlers.
Shop for a Toothbrush – Brushing your teeth is a big deal – so act like it! Turn the event into something that makes them feel like a big kid. Take them to the store to go shopping for their very first toothbrush. We recommend an electric toothbrush for all ages. They are easier to use, take a lot of the work out of the brushing, and often have a timer or song to ensure your kid is brushing for the full two minutes.
Brush Together – You and your child should both be brushing in the morning and at night before bed. Since you will need to supervise your toddler, why not work on brushing for a beautiful smile together? Having Mom or Dad help is easier when it doesn’t feel like you are just there to direct them. Together, you can get over all the hurdles of learning to brush for the first time – getting behind the teeth, brushing the full two minutes, and spitting out your toothpaste at the end!
Make It Fun – Toddlers hate things that are not fun. Any parent who has had to drag their kid to the doctor, the grocery store, or a nice restaurant has experience with this. So, how do we turn brushing your teeth into an adventure?
There are a few creative ways to capture your toddler’s attention in the morning and before bed. You can make up a silly song to sing together before and after brushing. Make a colorful chart (like the one above from the AAPD) with stickers to keep track of “mouth monster-free” months. Turn the whole process into a ritual that involves dancing, singing, or bringing a toy to the bathroom. If you can bring a spark of joy to the experience, it will make a huge difference for you and for your little one!
Choosing the Right Tools for the Job
What are two of the most important weapons in your fight against tooth decay? For both parents and children, the answer is the same: your toothbrush and toothpaste. When you are purchasing your child’s toothbrush and toothpaste, it is important to know what you should be looking for and why. When there are so many options, what should we be considering first?
Buying the Best Toothbrush for Your Child
There are three things to consider when buying a toothbrush: the bristles, size, and handle of the toothbrush. Each of these aspects of the toothbrush will impact how easily your child will be able to use the toothbrush. Shop smart when buying your child’s next toothbrush and follow these guidelines for a great toothbrush!
Bristles should be soft and round. Every toothbrush will detail the size, shape, and softness of the bristles somewhere on the packaging. A brush with soft, rounded bristles clean teeth without damaging gums! A hard-bristle brush can be harsh on sensitive gums without providing any additional cleaning. So, protect your child’s gums and choose the right bristles!
Size is also crucial for a comfortable and effective experience. A toothbrush that is too big or too small will make it more difficult to clean every surface of the teeth. So, make sure that the toothbrush will fit between your child’s cheek and back teeth! The easiest way to do this is to choose a toothbrush that is designed for kids and labeled for their age range.
The handle of the toothbrush should be designed to fit comfortably in your child’s hand while brushing. An adult toothbrush will most likely be too small and difficult for them to move while brushing. The best toothbrushes for kids have larger handles and rubber grips!
Picking Out the Perfect Toothpaste
Finding a toothpaste that protects your child’s teeth is critical. Your dentist will probably recommend a few brands and an appropriate level of fluoride for your child. However, you still must go to the store and pick out the best one on the shelf – and, boy, are there a lot of choices! Here is what you should be looking for when finding the right toothpaste for your family’s little ones.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is a great place to start. Many companies like Crest, Colgate, Tom’s of Maine, and Aquafresh for Kids have a seal from the American Dental Association. The ADA-approved options have passed a close inspection that evaluates them for safety, effectiveness, fluoride, and their overall ability to fight plaque.
Fluoride is another key element of a great toothpaste for children. Fluoride reduces tooth decay and keeps away cavities. Fluoride and its extra cleaning power have been recommended by the ADA for over 50 years! Check with your dentist to see how much fluoride they suggest for your child’s oral health.
And finally, we know that it’s important for your child to enjoy the flavor of their toothpaste as well. Many of the traditional minty flavors that adults enjoy are not suitable for children, so don’t expect to share your toothpaste with your kid. It will be difficult to convince your child to brush with something that they think is “spicy!” Finding another toothpaste should not be difficult, however. There are many fun flavors for kids to choose from, so find something that is more enjoyable – like berry, bubblegum, or watermelon!
