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Helping your child to brush her own teeth

Brushing teeth is quite a challenging skill for most children to master. However, you can make the most of the fact that at the moment they like to imitate exactly what you do. So buy identically coloured toothbrushes for both of you, and you’re ready to start.

• To help your child see clearly what she’s doing sit on the floor with your toothbrushes, a cup for rinsing and a bowl for spitting.
• Your child will probably enjoy the spitting part of the exercise the most, so build the exercise around the idea that each time she puts the brush in her mouth she earns the right to spit!.
• Choose a soft-bristled child’s toothbrush and use a fun-looking tube of children’s toothpaste. You’ll only need a tiny dab of toothpaste each time you brush.
• Don’t assume that she’ll find it easy to learn how to brush. She still lacks the manual dexterity to do a complete job.
• Continue to show her how to achieve a good brushing technique, and in time she’ll get the hang of it.
• This is an important part of her development which will establish healthy brushing habits for life.
• Remember that the average toothbrush can harbour enough germs to put its user at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and chronic infections.
• So never share your toothbrush with your children or vice versa, and replace toothbrushes at least every three months.
• Consult your dentist for further advice on brushing and flossing techniques appropriate for children.