Oral Hygiene for Kids

 

Cleaning Gummy Smiles

Oral hygiene begins before the first tooth appears. Clean your infant's gums after feeding by wiping with a damp cloth. This gets your child used to having your hands in their mouth and makes the transition to toothbrushing easier.

The First Tooth

A baby's first tooth usually erupts around 6 months of age. At this time you should begin brushing their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Toothpaste is not necessary, but can make it easier for some babies to accept the toothbrush. For children under 2 years of age, only a smear of toothpaste should be used. Children 2-5 years of age may use a pea-sized amount. Dr. Kerstin's  girls enjoyed Nuk Fluoride-Free Toothpaste and Tom's of Maine Children's Toothpaste.

 

Make Brushing Fun

 

  • Lead by example - allow your children to watch you brush and floss your teeth. Talk about why it's important and how nice it feels to have squeaky clean teeth.

  • Sing a song while brushing their teeth.

  • Try an app:

    • Brusheez

    • Chomper Chums

    • Disney Magic Timer

    • Brushy Time

  • Listen to a podcast. The Chompers podcast hosted by the Tooth Fairy offers songs, stories, riddles, and trivia timed to keep your child engaged while brushing for 2 minutes.

  • Watch videos where familiar faces brush their teeth