{"id":78,"date":"2024-11-21T16:24:46","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T16:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happyteethpa.com\/blog\/?p=78"},"modified":"2025-07-30T18:54:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T18:54:52","slug":"when-your-child-should-start-brushing-and-flossing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happyteethpa.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/21\/when-your-child-should-start-brushing-and-flossing\/","title":{"rendered":"When Your Child Should Start Brushing & Flossing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Getting your child started on a lifetime of excellent oral health may seem like a daunting challenge, but maintaining their teeth and gums is easier than you think. Unfortunately, however, many parents simply don\u2019t know when or where to begin taking care of their baby\u2019s smile, putting them at greater risk for inflammation and an increase in dangerous bacteria that could cause oral health problems later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get your child\u2019s teeth and gums off to a great start. Here\u2019s when and how you should begin caring for their smile<\/a> to ensure excellent oral health from birth and beyond!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Brushing & Flossing: When to Begin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though occasionally it does happen, most of the time babies are not born with any teeth. Still, despite the fact that they have nothing to brush or floss yet, it\u2019s never too soon to start them on a good oral hygiene routine. Experts recommend that even if your child has no visible teeth, you should begin wiping down their mouths with a clean, damp cloth after each meal to get them in the habit of caring for their future teeth, and for keeping their gums clean and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Teeth & Beyond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your child\u2019s first tooth erupts, or around their first birthday, it\u2019s time for their first visit to the dentist. While they may not require a cleaning just yet, they should begin receiving bi-annual oral health exams. This will not only help ensure that their teeth are growing on schedule, but it can also help get them comfortable with being examined by the dentist from an early age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debut of the first tooth also means it\u2019s time to get brushing! Use a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush and a children\u2019s fluoride toothpaste and clean any visible teeth twice a day. Once your child has more than one consecutive tooth, you should also begin flossing between them once each day, even if there are gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Your Child to Brush & Floss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your child is old enough to hold the brush themselves, you should begin letting them. Be sure to supervise their oral hygiene routine until you are confident that they can rinse and spit without assistance. This typically occurs at around age six. To make brushing fun and help remind your child about proper technique, try doing it together. This way, they will see how you do it, and you can supervise them at the same time. Then, once they get a bit older and want to be more independent, you\u2019ll already be confident they can handle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, it\u2019s important to start caring for your child\u2019s oral health at birth to ensure a lifetime of beautiful smiles, even if they don\u2019t have any teeth yet. If your baby\u2019s first tooth has erupted or they are around one year old, it\u2019s time to schedule their first dental appointment. Until then, starting them on a path of great hygiene will help keep their teeth and gums safe and healthy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Our Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics<\/a>, we want to help ensure that your child has a lifetime of excellent oral health. Starting their dental hygiene routine young will not only help teach them to care for their teeth on their own, but it will also ensure that they don\u2019t develop dangerous problems later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t wait to get started on your baby\u2019s vital oral health care. Schedule their first exam and cleaning with us by visiting our website<\/a> or calling us today at 267-580-9657.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting your child started on a lifetime of excellent oral health may seem like a daunting challenge, but maintaining their teeth and gums is easier than you think. Unfortunately, however, many parents simply don\u2019t know when or where to begin taking care of their baby\u2019s smile, putting them at greater risk for inflammation and an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Your Child Should Start Brushing & Flossing - Happy Teeth Levittown Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering when your child should start brushing and flossing their teeth? 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