How to Teach a Kid to Brush & Floss on Their Own

When you’re a parent, you’re responsible for the health and wellness of your child. Early in a child’s life you’ll begin helping them by feeding them, bathing them, and of course, brushing their teeth and gums. Later on, teaching a child a regular brushing and flossing routine can seem daunting. But by focusing on a few simple steps, you can help set your child up for a lifetime of great dental health.

You can teach your child healthy dental health habits by scheduling their first dental checkup.
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How to Teach a Kid to Brush & Floss on Their Own

As a parent you are the number one motivator for your child making it important for you to have your own regular dental routine. Let your child watch you as you brush and floss your teeth daily. Even if your child is still an infant, bring them into the bathroom with you while you brush your teeth. Then you can help them with wiping their gums with a finger brush or washcloth. When your child is older, you can begin to brush and floss between their teeth for them.

How to Teach a Child to Brush Their Teeth

So now that your child has new teeth of their own, it’s important to begin brushing them daily with a soft bristled child’s toothbrush. Here are some strategies you can use to make brushing fun.

Let Your Child Choose the Brush and Toothpaste

It’s more fun to brush your teeth with a cool new toothbrush. If you allow your child to pick their own brush with a fun cartoon character or colorful design they may want to brush their teeth more often.

Related: 4 Children’s Toothpaste Flavors That Make Brushing Fun

Practice on a Stuffed Animal

Sometimes children need to be shown many different examples of proper teeth brushing. So show them how to brush using a stuffed animal or a puppet that has an open mouth. You can also try cartoons or apps that teach children about brushing teeth.

Avoid Sticky Foods

Sometimes all a child needs is a little more information. If your child is reluctant to brush their teeth, it may be because they don’t understand why they need to do it. Explaining to your child in simple terms the reasons why we take care of our teeth can help a child in the learning process.

The Two-Minute Rule

It’s really important for your child to brush all of their teeth effectively. Sometimes children focus on the front teeth, and sometimes they focus just on the molars. By teaching them to time their brushing, perhaps using a two minute song, they can be reminded to move their toothbrush throughout their mouths.

Brush Your Teeth with Them

Kids love spending time with their parents, especially smaller children who are learning about the world. 

How to Teach a Child to Floss

Flossing teeth properly is a skill that many adults have yet to master. Flossing is only required once a day, but it is critical to the health and well-being of your teeth and gums. Here are some ways to introduce flossing to your child.

Related: When To Start Flossing Your Child’s Teeth?

Show your Child that Flossing Doesn’t Hurt

Again, small children sometimes need help understanding why it’s important to do certain things and that new experiences can he a good thing. Also, some kids need more information about new experiences than others. Make sure your child understands that flossing doesn’t hurt and is actually good for their teeth.

Purchase Children’s Plastic Flossers

It is easy to find fun plastic flossing aids at your local drug store. These devices not only make flossing fun, but they are specially designed for smaller mouths. This makes flossing much easier for your child.

Turn Flossing into a Game

Perhaps you’ve realized, flossing can be a good time to inspect your own teeth. You can show your child how to look in their own mouths while flossing to count their teeth. Not only will they not forget to floss between all their teeth, they’ll also learn more about how to assess the health of their mouths.

Floss Alongside Your Child

Remember, children really do look up to their parents. Make flossing a special bonding time with your child. At first, you can show them how to brush and floss correctly.  Once they get the hang of it, you can transition this time into a conversation about your day. Then flossing won’t be considered a chore and you’ll get some quality time with your kiddo.

Related: Flossing Guide for Kids and Parents

If you still are having a hard time helping your child get used to brushing and flossing daily, it’s a great idea to consult with a pediatric dentist. They can guide you and your child on proper brushing and flossing techniques. You can actually start bringing your child to the dentist before they even have teeth. If children are taught the importance of dental hygiene at an early age, they tend to have less fear and anxiety around trips to the dentist and enjoy better dental health later in life.