When should a child independently brush their teeth?

Perhaps you have wondered when you should let your kids brush their own teeth and not have them leave slimy plague on their teeth. There is no specific age when kids start brushing, some can start early and others start late. 

The question of when kids can start brushing their teeth was studied by two researchers who found that children around age 5 only brush 25 percent of the surface on their teeth, around age of 11, kids brush about 50 percent of the surface of their teeth while 18-22-year-olds brush only up to 67 percent of the surface of their teeth. This shows that, as kids grow older, they brush better. 

According to science, as kids grow older, they develop a better eye hand condition. However, it is also argued that with time, kids develop better brushing techniques and hence brush better. This is why a five-year old can be taught to brush and end up brushing better than a 10-year-old. 

Kids Dental Care

The best cosmetic dentist and any good dentist will tell you that kids dental care starts the moment the first tooth appears. The fact that you cannot see the teeth on the gums of your baby does not mean they are not there. Teeth form in the second trimester; during this time, there are 20 well-developed teeth in the jaw.

Even before the kid can learn how to brush their own teeth, you need to run a clean cloth on the gum to remove any bacteria that may be on the gums. When your kid’s teeth develop, you need to start brushing them with an infant toothbrush with water and fluoride. The fluoride should be as small as a grain of rice. This ensures that the toothpaste swallowed is not a lot. 

When the teeth touch, you can start flossing the teeth. At age 2, your kid should start learning how to spit the toothpaste. The kid should spit the toothpaste before you give them any water. At age three, increase the amount of fluoride toothpaste to pea-size. At this age, your kid can start learning how to use a brush. However, even when they appear like they know how to brush, you should supervise their brushing to ensure they do not swallow toothpaste. 

How important is it for kids to learn how to brush?

Even if you mind your dental hygiene and have the best cosmetic dentist on fast dial, you will one day or many days forget to brush the teeth of your kid. If they learn how to brush their teeth, you can develop a routine for them to brush every day before they sleep. 

Kids, just like adults, can develop tooth decay, gingivitis and other dental problems when they get into poor feeding habits. Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle or exposing them to sugary food when soothing them to sleep is detrimental to their teeth. Eating sugary food and sucking all day can cause discoloration of teeth when the enamel is eaten away, a condition referred to as bottle teeth.

Should Kids See a Dentist?

Yes, kids should see a dentist from the day the first tooth develops. There are many child dentists in Sherman Oaks and in Los Angeles. Choose Southland Dental Care for your child. Visits to dentists will help detect any dental problem early. Pediatric dentists will handle any kid dental issue.

So, When Can You Let Your Kid Brush Without Supervision?

You kid will learn how to brush well, without swallowing toothpaste and without leaving some teeth unbrushed, by age 6. However, this is not absolute; some kids will learn how to brush earlier and some will take longer. By age 9, your kid should have learnt how to brush well.

From the day your child’s first tooth appears, you joyously begin their brushing routine. As they grow older, you want your kids to have an active interest in their oral hygiene, but exactly when should your children start to brush their own teeth?

Age 2: Teach Your Child to Spit

At age two, you should still be brushing your child’s teeth for them. After you brush their teeth, tell your child to spit out the extra toothpaste into the sink. This teaches them not to swallow the toothpaste. After they spit , you can then give them water to wash their mouth out a little more. This first step helps introduce your child to the idea of caring for their own teeth.

Age 3 to 6: Start Having Your Child Brush

Children develop at different paces, and that’s okay. Some children are ready to start brushing their own teeth — with plenty of supervision, of course — at age three. Others are not ready until they are four, five, or six. You’ll have to feel it out and determine when your child is ready. Here are some tips to help ease them into brushing their own teeth.

Let Them Practice

Young kids, even toddlers, might try to grab the toothbrush and brush their baby teeth on their own. It’s good to let them do this sometimes so that they feel like a big kid, but don’t forget to follow up with proper brushing yourself. It’s great that your child is showing an interest in their dental care, but at this age, they can’t brush every which way on their own — and still need their parents to remain in control of the health of their teeth.

Couple Brushing With Shoe-Tying

If your child can tie their own shoes, they’re definitely old enough to be brushing their own teeth. Once your child can figure out the coordination it takes to tie up their laces, they have the mental and physical ability to brush their pearly whites themselves. You can now let them mostly hold the brush and do the brushing on their own. Just supervise and help them as needed.

Age 8: Keep an Eye on Their Brushing

By the age of 8, your child should be confidently brushing their own teeth without the need for any direct help from you. However, you should still check in and remind them to brush their teeth twice per day. Observe their brushing regularly. If they are not spending long enough, you may need to set a timer to ensure they brush for a full two minutes. If they seem to be spending more time on one side than on the other, remind them to split their time equally between their teeth.

The Older They Get, the Better They Brush

Being a part of your child’s dental routine is very important. As they grow, they’ll learn more and more about how to care for their teeth, and that’s why it’s so important that you’re there to keep their oral care in check.

There is no definite time that all kids are able to brush their teeth on their own. It varies from child to child, but you can use these guidelines to determine when your own child is ready. Even after they start brushing on their own, don’t forget to supervise and continue to help with the rest of their dental routine, such as flossing and making sure they visit the dentist for a routine checkup every six months.