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Getting your kids to brush their teeth is no easy task. It’s about as easy as getting them to take a bath or eat their vegetables, but we all want our children to be happy and healthy throughout the rest of their lives, and strong oral hygiene is very important to that. We can teach them the basics, but unfortunately, we can’t always watch them closely to make sure that they’re brushing and flossing thoroughly (if at all).
Mesa Pediatric Dentist has provided these checks to help you know whether or not your child is brushing:
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They’re done brushing quickly. Even baby teeth need to be brushed for at least two minutes.
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Their toothbrush is dry. A toothbrush that’s used as much as it should be is pretty much never dry.
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Food particles are lingering in their smile. If your child comes marching out, claiming they’ve brushed, ask for a smile check. If there’s still food there, send them marching back.
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Do a “squeak test.” Ask your child to wet their finger and rub it quickly across their teeth. If you hear a squeaking sound, your child has “squeaky clean” teeth.
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Have them stick out their tongue. A pink tongue is a clean tongue. If it’s white, there’s still bacteria lurking. Have them brush their teeth AND their tongue for complete oral care.
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Check their breath. If it’s bad, especially when they’re young, it’s often the result of bacteria buildup from lingering food particles. If it’s anything short of pleasant, send them back in.
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Cavities. If your child develops dental issues, such as cavities or tooth pain, this is an obvious sign that your child is skipping all or part of their dental care routine.
Watching them every time isn’t possible, especially as they get older, but your Mesa Pediatric Dentist can give you additional tips to help keep your kids excited about brushing, so that they develop strong habits early on.
