Teaching your child to brush their teeth at an early age is essential to form healthy habits later on. While it’s recommended that you start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they grow their first tooth, you might be engaging in potentially harmful practices without realizing it.

Here are some of the primary proper brushing techniques that will put your child on the path to better oral health.

A little toothpaste goes a long way

Most kinds of toothpaste contain fluoride, a healthy component that works to promote enamel health and prevent tooth decay. It’s beneficial in small amounts but it can become problematic in young children who are still developing.

In fact, you should only use a pea-sized amount when your child reaches the age of three. If they develop teeth before that, you should use an amount about the size of a grain of rice. Otherwise, you may be exposing your child to too much fluoride. Should your child start to show streaks of white on their teeth, they may be suffering from fluorosis, which can damage your child’s teeth and overall health. As such, you should always ensure your child spits out the toothpaste and only use the recommended amount for their age.

Remember the cheeks and gums

It might feel awkward to brush your child’s gums, but most family dentists will recommend brushing your child’s teeth, cheeks, gums, and tongue at an early age. In a manner similar to brushing your child’s teeth, you should brush in small, gentle circles to dislodge plaque and bacteria. Be sure to brush for approximately two minutes to ensure the mouth is properly cleaned.

Only use soft bristles

It might be tempting to use a harder toothbrush for extra scrubbing power, but you should only use gentle toothbrush bristles on your child’s teeth. Otherwise, you can scrape away the developing enamel and injure the teeth. It’s estimated that children with poor oral health are almost three times more likely to miss school because of dental pain.

For more information on the proper brushing habits for your children, rely on the pediatric dentists Gainesville VA trusts: with Smilez Pediatric Dental Group, our experienced staff of kids dentists will work hard to provide the best dental care and advice. Contact us today for more information on our role as pediatric dentists in the Gainesville area.