I know the drill.
Every morning and night you tell your child, “Go brush your teeth!” And you assume they’re doing a good enough job.
Right?
But maybe they go to the bathroom and brush quickly to get it over with, or they might even try to pull the trick I used to – just wet the toothbrush so my mom would think I had brushed.
Whatever they’re doing, how do we know if it’s good enough?
If you’re already checking after your child’s brushing, I’m so proud! 🙂
If not, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start. I know it’s one more thing to add to our list of things to do as a Mom, but I promise it pays off!
The Determining Factor
To brush effectively, you need manual dexterity.
Here is the fancy definition: the ability to use your hands in a skillful, coordinated way to grasp and manipulate objects and demonstrate small, precise movements.
In other words, it just means you are comfortable holding a toothbrush, and can maneuver it in all the many ways to effectively brush every surface of every tooth – and your tongue too 🙂
The key part here is that the brushing is done effectively!
It may look like your 4 year old is doing a good job brushing, and I know they look super cute doing it, but it’s uncommon for a child to have manual dexterity at that age.
When Is My Child Ready to Brush Alone?
Children usually master this fine motor skill between the ages of 6-12. I recommend waiting until they turn 8 years old – just to be on the safe side.
Until this skill is mastered, your child is unable to brush or floss well enough on their own. And if a parent isn’t helping brush, plaque is left behind, which can lead to gingivitis and cavities.
I know it’s a lot of work brushing again. In fact, it’s exhausting! I have 3 kids and have brushed their teeth for too many years to count.
And I’m still brushing after my oldest 😐
It is worth it, though.
How do I know if My Child is Brushing Well Enough?
So your child has just finished flossing/brushing, and you’re checking to see how well they did.
What exactly should you be looking for?
Make sure to check around the gumline, since this is where plaque likes to hide. If you see spots on the gumline that look red and irritated, most likely it’s a spot they’re frequently missing.
Here is an image of plaque on the teeth, for example.
The teeth will have a “fuzzy” appearance if plaque is still present.
If you do see plaque, have your child brush again. If they’re still missing places, it tells you they’re not ready to brush alone yet, and you should continue brushing after them.
An Easier Way:
The best way to see how well your child is brushing is by using disclosing tablets. They’re most commonly used in dental offices, but can be purchased online for personal use.
Using disclosing tabs makes plaque detection simple, and kids love seeing what they do to their teeth!!! It’s gross and cool.
In this example, the right side of the picture shows where the plaque was hiding! You can easily remove the stained plaque by using floss and a toothbrush.
Suggestions
These are my 4 helpful recommendations for success:
- A fun electric toothbrush. This one, or this one. They’re about the same price, and each one has a 2 minute built-in timer. The first option comes in 5 different colors.
- Offer several different flavors of toothpaste. Kids love to have options. Click here, and scroll to the bottom to see a list of kid-approved toothpaste flavors.
- Plackers dental flossers. Click here. In my opinion, these work better than the ones made specifically for kids.
- DISCLOSING TABLETS!!!! 🙂 Click here. These are a game-changer. They come in a 4 month supply (120 tabs).
By making this exciting and fun for your child, they’ll be brushing better in no time, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing they are.
Steps:
- Have your child brush the best they can. Be encouraging! I suggest doing this at bedtime, since mornings are usually hectic.
- After they’ve brushed, give your child a disclosing tab to chew. These are berry flavored, and my kids love them.
- Get your child to look in the mirror and check for missed spots.
- Have your child brush one last time to try to remove all the stained plaque.
- Do this for a week or two, and their brushing should improve day by day.
- If they’re still missing spots after 2 weeks, this lets you know they’re not ready to brush alone yet. You should continue brushing after them. You can try again in a few months.
- If the two weeks were successful, congratulations! You can now have confidence that your child is doing a great job brushing. Every month or so, I suggest using disclosing tablets for maintenance checks to see if they’re slacking off any.
- Set a nightly alarm around bedtime, and this will let them know it’s time to brush. Once they get into the habit of brushing and flossing, it will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth!
These have also been eye opening when used for myself. 😮