Brushing

Parents should be brushing for or helping children brush until the age of 5 years. Until this time, children do not have the motor skills to brush their teeth properly.  Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.  For children under the age of 2, Dr. Poulos will help determine if your child requires fluoridated toothpaste. This is determined by your child’s and family’s decay rate.

When you brush your child’s teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under their gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take several minutes to brush your child’s teeth thoroughly.  Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of the front and back teeth. Brush the tongue and the roof of the mouth before they rinse.

You should perform this brushing four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:

• In the morning after breakfast

• After lunch or right after school

• After dinner

• At bedtime

As soon as the bristles begin to wear down or fray, replace the toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss carefully and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.

Flossing

Dental floss should be used to remove food particles and plaque in areas between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your child’s teeth every day.

Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your child’s back teeth.

Floss at night to make sure your child’s teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, the gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.

Brushing

Parents should be brushing for or helping children brush until the age of 5 years. Until this time, children do not have the motor skills to brush their teeth properly.  Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.  For children under the age of 2, Dr. Poulos will help determine if your child requires fluoridated toothpaste. This is determined by your child’s and family’s decay rate.

When you brush your child’s teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under their gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take several minutes to brush your child’s teeth thoroughly.  Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of the front and back teeth. Brush the tongue and the roof of the mouth before they rinse.

You should perform this brushing four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:

• In the morning after breakfast

• After lunch or right after school

• After dinner

• At bedtime

As soon as the bristles begin to wear down or fray, replace the toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss carefully and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.

Flossing

Dental floss should be used to remove food particles and plaque in areas between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your child’s teeth every day.

Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your child’s back teeth.

Floss at night to make sure your child’s teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, the gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.