In Our Previous Blog we began the basic tips and knowledge every parent should arm themselves with when considering a family dentist. Here in Missoula, many families trust the pediatric dentistry experts at Bitterroot Dental, Missoula’s Top Rated Local® family dental office.
After you ensure your child’s brushing resources are readily available to them, and prepare yourself for monitoring and mentoring your child’s brushing habits, the next steps toward a successful oral health foundation for your child is implementing proper brushing technique.
Use These Specific Brushing Techniques
- Divide the mouth into quadrants – top, right and left & bottom, right and left. Dividing the concept of brushing into quarters allows your child to focus 30 seconds on each portion, inside and out, before moving on to the next.
- Control the amount of toothpaste – putting a large amount of toothpaste on the brush (as seen in television commercials) is actually harmful to proper brushing as it creates a large amount of foam, prompting your child to spit early. Instead, teach your child to take a small amount of toothpaste (around the size of a pea). For youngsters this will likely be enough for all of their teeth, older kids may need to get toothpaste a second time, which is absolutely okay.
- Don’t thoroughly rinse – many people find this surprising, but thoroughly rinsing one’s mouth after brushing removes most of the fluoride, preventing it from continuing to work on tooth decay protection and reduction. Instead, instruct your child to spit out excess toothpaste, then rinse excess foam from the brush and use the water left in the bristles to wipe the tongue clean. It is advisable to leave a small film of fluoride on teeth, or use mouthwash as an alternative rinse.
- Brush twice a day the right way – while many of us know that brushing twice a day is advised, it is important to brush at the correct time each time. Brushing should take place prior to breakfast in the morning, and immediately before bed in the evening. This allows for brushing to remove any plaque that accumulates in the daytime or while sleeping, and gives fluoride a chance to begin protecting teeth prior to any mealtime activity.
- Incorporate the extras – another key step toward setting your child up for ideal oral health is including flossing and rinsing with mouthwash with one of your child’s daily brushes. Talk with your pediatric dentist for product recommendations or specific usage tips on your child’s next visit.
Check out our Special Offers on Missoula family & pediatric dentistry, or Schedule An Appointment today at 406-203-9924!
