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Brushing up on your kids cleaning technique

Mar
30

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We often get asked about cleaning children’s teeth: when to start, how to do it properly, and when to stop supervising older children’s tooth brushing. So with thanks to Dental Health Services Victoria, here’s an easy-to-follow guide to help you:

  • Cleaning and brushing teeth removes plaque (the build-up on teeth) that causes tooth decay.
  • Start cleaning baby’s teeth when they appear – around six months of age
  • You can start cleaning your baby’s teeth by wiping with a soft cloth or brushing with a small soft toothbrush and water.
  • At 18 months start using a pea sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth. Encourage your child to spit out toothpaste after brushing, but not rinse.
  • Getting your child to pretend to be a hippo or lion encourages a wide-open mouth for brushing!
  • Clean all surfaces of the teeth and gums twice a day (before or half an hour after breakfast, and before bed).
  • Children will need an adult to help them brush their teeth until about 7 or 8 years of age.
  • There are some great apps that have ‘teeth brushing songs’ and other fun techniques to help make teeth brushing enjoyable.

Signs that your child’s teeth are not being brushed correctly are:

  • Red and swollen gums
  • A furry white film over the teeth (plaque)

So you ‘get the picture’ click on the link below for an illustrated guide to brushing children’s teeth (18 months to 6 years)

How to clean your child’s teeth guide>>

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