When Can My Child Brush Their Teeth On Their Own?

Learning to brush their teeth is an important part of being independent and able to care for themselves and their children. However, it does take skill and coordination to brush your teeth thoroughly. When your child is a toddler, you should begin teaching them how to brush, but continue to do the real work yourself until you are sure they can handle it properly on their own.

Start Teaching Them Early

When your child is two or three years old, begin teaching them how to brush properly. Demonstrate how to do it yourself, then encourage them to use their toothbrush to clean their teeth. If you make brushing together part of the evening bedtime ritual, toddlers are more likely to enjoy it. After they are finished, you must brush their teeth again to ensure nothing is missed. Children don’t yet have the hand-eye coordination at this age to do a good job on their own.

During this learning phase, keep a few helpful suggestions in mind:

• Children have smaller mouths and hands. Investing in a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles will make brushing easier.
• Brushing together at night will encourage them to brush regularly.
• Let your child choose an appropriate toothbrush featuring a cartoon character, favorite color, or design.

Knowing When Your Child is Ready to “Go Solo”

When you think your child may be mature enough to brush and floss independently, look for some key indicators that they have the skills, dexterity, and independence to brush their teeth independently. These may include:

Manual Dexterity

When your child can easily tie their shoelaces, they probably have the dexterity to brush even their back teeth and all tooth surfaces. If they still struggle with tying their shoes or buttoning their clothes, they may also need help with brushing.

Maturity

Is your child mature enough to remember to brush twice a day without being pestered by their parents? Do they remember to wash their face and hands without reminders? Can they get ready for bed without help? Can they be trusted not to lie about whether they’ve brushed or not? If they can be relied on to do a good job, reward their maturity with trust, but still check in weekly to keep them on track.

Rinsing and Spitting

Younger children may swallow toothpaste, which is why we recommend only a very small amount with toddlers. Kids under six years old tend to swallow some or all of their spit and toothpaste. Stress the importance of spitting into the sink and rinsing their mouth thoroughly before spitting.

Children who are taught early how to brush and floss and make brushing part of their everyday routines have fewer cavities, less risk of gingivitis, and healthier smiles. If you have questions about teaching your child good oral hygiene, contact our office at Kentfield Office Phone Number 415-454-6414 to schedule an appointment for you and your child.