How to Teach Teeth Brushing

Proper dental hygiene is a habit that should be instilled in children early on and reinforced as much as possible. A parent should brush her child's teeth until age four, and should supervise afterwards. Though not all children may be enthusiastic brushers, it's possible to use props and visual aids to inspire them to brush correctly and regularly.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Square box (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Start early. Begin brushing your child's teeth between 12 and 18 months, and introduce toothpaste at age three. Don't let your child get into the habit of swallowing toothpaste; be sure to teach her to spit it out and rinse with water.

• 2

  Demonstrate. Show your child how to brush her teeth with a gentle circular motion. Don't forget to show her to brush the tongue, as well. As she gets old enough to brush on her own, establish a routine of brushing after each meal, and before going to bed at night.

• 3

  Use props to demonstrate how to brush. Use a toothbrush to brush a small, square box, showing your child how to clean the top of the tooth and all around the sides. This is also a useful visual aid to teach her about flossing, since you can show how the floss should move between the teeth.

• 4

  Be consistent. Supervise your child's brushing; make her do it over if she needs to, but reward her occasionally for a job well done.