Your child gets all excited when you let them buy a toothbrush for the first time. Their excitement is all about getting a brush with their favorite color or featuring a cartoon character. But you know the struggle when you have to actually get them to use it, especially twice a day, that too on a daily basis.
That’s where you question your entire approach and come up with questions like:
Should I make it a game?
Bribe them with treats?
Is this going to be a fight every morning and night?
But trust that you’re not alone here.
Nearly every parent faces this challenge in their parenting phase, but it gets easier with the right tools, brushing techniques, and a bit of patience.
So today, let’s walk through some tried-and-true tooth brushing techniques that can make things easier for both you and your child.
When to Start Brushing Your Child’s Teeth?
Many people have this idea of brushing being solely associated with having teeth. But dental care is directly connected with the overall health of your child’s mouth, including their gums, tongue, and even saliva.
You don’t need to wait until your baby’s first tooth appears to start tooth brushing. What you should do is wipe your baby’s gums with a soft and damp cloth after feeding them, as it helps in removing milk residue and prevents bacteria. And when their first tooth grows (usually around 6 months), make sure to use a soft and tiny head brush for brushing their little teeth.
Tooth Brushing Techniques for Young Children
Did you know that around 60-90% of children globally experience cavities? And you sure know the reason. Most of it comes down to poor brushing habits and a lack of awareness of dental care for children.
That’s what we are trying to preach to make your child not become part of that statistic.
For Toddlers and Preschoolers
The first and most important tip is to start brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush that’s gentle on your child’s gums and has a tiny head. Also, make sure you’re holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, and use gentle, circular or vertical strokes. But after all, you need to be gentle and patient.
So, avoid brushing side to side as it may seem quicker, but it’s tough on enamel and not nearly as effective.
Make sure you’re brushing twice a day for a full two minutes. Yes, two whole minutes! It might feel like a long time when your toddler is wiggling or grumbling, but you can make it fun with music, apps, or storytelling.
Be sure to clean all areas:
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- Outer surfaces (cheek side)
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- Inner surfaces (tongue side)
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- Chewing surfaces
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- And the tongue (gently) to remove bacteria and freshen breath
At this age, brushing is a shared responsibility. Let your child try first to encourage independence, but you’ll need to do the follow-up brushing to make sure their teeth are fully clean.
The KAI and Modified Bass Techniques
You must be busy looking for the best cleansers, body washes, and lotions for your child’s skin, but don’t ever neglect oral care. While you’re keeping their skin soft and clean, their tiny teeth and gums need just as much love and attention.
Brushing techniques like KAI and the Modified Bass technique are effective methods that have been developed to make sure your child’s oral health is protected.
Let’s have a look at how these methods work
The KAI Method
This technique is simple, structured, and easy for young children to follow. The name KAI comes from the areas it focuses on:
K = Kauflächen (chewing surfaces)
A = Außenflächen (outer surfaces)
I = Innenflächen (inner surfaces)
The process is simple:
Start with the chewing surfaces, as these are flat and easy to reach.
Move to the outer surfaces, brushing in small circles.
Finish with the inner surfaces, where food particles often hide.
The KAI method gives structure to your child’s brushing routine and helps them remember all the important areas to clean. It’s ideal for toddlers and preschoolers who are just starting out on their brushing routines.
Modified Bass Technique
This technique is highly recommended by dental professionals. You can make your child opt for it once they reach the age where you don’t have to hold the brush for them. It means it’s basically for young children.
Here’s how it works:
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- Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line.
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- Use short, gentle back-and-forth strokes to clean along the edge of the gums.
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- Focus on one or two teeth at a time.
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- Be sure to clean the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
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- For inner front teeth, turn the brush vertically and use gentle up-and-down strokes.
This method helps remove plaque from just under the gum line and helps children develop a safe yet solid tooth brushing routine.
Flossing
Flossing can be started at the age of 3. Since the toothbrushes can’t reach those tight spaces where food and plaque love to hide, even if you use a baby toothbrush.
So what you need to do is start with child-friendly floss picks, and help them floss once a day before bed. It helps remove the plaque and stubborn food pieces that can’t be gotten rid of with brushing only.
Brushing the Tongue
Don’t skip the tongue!
It’s a common hiding spot for bacteria that cause bad breath. But it’s the hard part for kids as it triggers the gag reflex or just feels weird, so they squirm, resist, or flat-out refuse.
But slowly build the routine of gently sweeping the toothbrush from the back of the tongue to the front to have a fresh breath.
Should You Brush Your Teeth Before or After Breakfast?
Brushing before breakfast is the best approach as it helps in removing plaque and bacteria that build up overnight. Also, when you use some high-quality fluoride toothpaste, it gives a coating of fluoride to your child’s teeth with fluoride which acts as a shield from sugars and acids that your child would take in breakfast.
However, there’s no harm in brushing after breakfast. But you must wait about 30 to 60 minutes. So, while it might seem more logical to brush after eating, brushing before breakfast is the healthier and dentist-approved choice.
What is the Best Kind of Toothbrush for Kids?
Soft-bristle and small-head brushes are the preferred choice of parents when their kids start brushing. You can even let your child pick their toothbrush with their favorite color, cartoon character, or fun design. This small choice gives them a sense of ownership and makes brushing feel like a fun task, not a chore.
Additionally, when your child progresses to the age of 3, you can find a good electric toothbrush for them with features like:
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- A built-in two-minute timer
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- Soft and oscillating heads
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- Gentle vibration to loosen plaque
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- Fun elements like music, stickers, or app connectivity
And if you’re searching for how to use an electric toothbrush for your child, just follow these simple steps:
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- Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush head.
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- Place the brush gently on the teeth at a 45-degree angle.
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- Encourage your child to keep their mouth slightly open and relaxed as you move the brush around.
Here’s a quick tip: let your child explore the electric toothbrush while it’s off first. Once they’re comfortable, turn it on and let them feel the vibration on their hand or lip.
Final Words
Making your child stick to a healthy routine is not an easy job. But you’ve to build it gradually and with patience. Therefore, our purpose behind this blog is to give you practical and real-world tips on how you can make oral care less of a chore and more of a habit your child can grow into.
And now we hope you feel more confident about guiding your little one through each step. But if you need any help, suggestions, or recommendations, you can always connect with us as we have the best dentist for children who are ready for your support.
