Best Tips for Teaching Your Child To Brush Their Teeth On Their Own

When your child is young, you start brushing and flossing their teeth for them. As they age, your child can begin assisting you and eventually do their dental care independently.

At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, our pediatric dentists, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, recommend starting to help your child learn to brush their teeth by themself as soon as possible. These tips help your child become a competent and enthusiastic brusher early.

When can my child brush their teeth independently?

Your child can get involved in the tooth-brushing process as young as toddlerhood. You can have them hold the toothbrush with you and demonstrate the process as part of their usual routine.

Most children are ready to brush their teeth independently between 6 and 9 years old. Our team can help you determine if your child is ready for independent brushing at their preventive dentistry appointments, especially if they have special needs.

Helping your child learn to brush their teeth on their own

You can make learning to brush fun while ensuring your child knows the best technique for cleaning teeth and gums. Try these strategies:

Start at a young age

You can involve your child in the toothbrushing process when they’re toddlers. Commit to brushing your child’s teeth every morning and night to get your child used to a brushing routine.

As you brush your child’s teeth, explain, in age-appropriate terms, what you’re doing, and demonstrate good technique. You can also have your child help you hold the toothbrush and brush together.

Toddlers don’t yet have the strength or manual dexterity to remove plaque from brushing, but they can become more confident in their skills and do more of the work over time. They’ll be well-prepared to take over the brushing fully when they’re older.

Demonstrate proper brushing technique

When you brush your child’s teeth, make sure to model the correct brushing technique. Brush a full set of teeth for two minutes and demonstrate holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle.

You should also show them how to brush on the gum line to ensure they thoroughly clean their gums. As part of the learning process, have your child watch you brush your own teeth.

Learn to brush in small steps

Break down the tooth brushing process into small steps to make it easier for your child to understand and complete. For example, encourage them to focus on one quadrant of their mouth (such as the lower right half) for 30 seconds before moving to the next section.

Play music

Playing age-appropriate music helps make the tooth-brushing process fun while ensuring your child brushes their teeth for two minutes. The American Dental Association provides a complimentary brushing playlist.

Use positive reinforcement

When teaching your child to brush their teeth, focus on the positives, including what they’re doing well and how brushing keeps their teeth healthy. Avoid scaring them with worst-case scenarios about cavities.

Get help

Our team helps reinforce what you teach your child at home at their dental cleanings. We work with children to help them learn brushing techniques and can answer any of your questions.

With patience and support, your child can learn to brush your teeth effectively and reduce their risk of cavities. Contact us for assistance with your child’s pediatric dental needs.