Help your kids brush their teeth 2min2x – 2 minutes each
time, 2 times a day – for healthier teeth, good breath, fewer cavities, and to
avoid painful dental problems. The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy
Lives recommends that you help or watch over your kids’ brushing until they’re
8. Children 2 or older should always use a fluoride toothpaste.
The Right Toothbrush
- Kids should use a soft toothbrush. The size and shape of the brush should allow them to reach all areas of their mouth.
- Replace toothbrushes every 3-4 months, sooner if the bristles are worn out or if your children have been sick.
- Plaque is a sticky film of germs that forms on teeth and gums after eating. Plaque that’s not removed by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day can lead to cavities.
- Encourage your kids to brush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Use a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste for kids ages 2-6, and use slightly more when they’re older.
- Teach them to spit out the toothpaste when they’re done so they don’t swallow it.
- For kids under age 2, just use a soft toothbrush and a little water; no toothpaste is necessary.
- Help your kids place the toothbrush at an angle against their gums.
- Make sure they move the brush back and forth, gently, in short strokes.
- Help them brush the front, back, and top of teeth.
- Teach them to brush their tongue to remove germs and freshen breath.
Reference: www.2min2x.org/kids-healthy-mouths
