The Importance of Brushing for Infants to Teens

Summary

Brushing helps keep kids’ teeth and gums healthy, especially since cavities and tooth decay are a common concern for many parents and caregivers. Brushing twice a day is important for kids of all ages, and starting early can help build healthy habits that last. Once they turn 3, a kids electric toothbrush can be a helpful option for plaque removal.

Baby teeth set the tone for kids’ oral health and impact the development of adult teeth. That’s why proper brushing is so important. Here’s how kids’ oral hygiene impacts their teeth and gums as they age.

What Are the Common Oral Care Issues in Kids?

Tooth decay is one of the most common oral care issues in kids. Cavities can form when plaque builds up on teeth and produces acids that wear away the tooth’s outer layer, eventually causing a small hole.

Plaque buildup also leads to gum disease. While gum disease isn’t usually top of mind for most parents, gingivitis is the most common type of gum disease in kids. Symptoms to watch out for include tender or swollen gums and gum bleeding when flossing or brushing.

Importance of Oral Health for Kids

A good oral hygiene routine is necessary for fighting off cavities, reducing the risk of gum disease, and maintaining a strong smile. This is very important since there are many issues that can come from a poor oral hygiene routine like discomfort and pain for your child. Oral health is an important part of overall health, and keeping kids’ teeth and gums healthy supports their overall well-being.

That’s why establishing good oral care habits early on is so important. Kids should brush 2X/day and floss at least 1X/day to keep teeth and gums healthy.

Brushing baby teeth should not be overlooked. Baby teeth impact the alignment of adult teeth and brushing early on helps kids establish a good oral care routine so their smiles can stay healthy.

Importance of Brushing Kids' Teeth

Twice daily teeth brushing is crucial in fighting cavities and other oral health issues, especially for children.

Importance of Brushing Teeth in the Morning

Brushing kids’ teeth in the morning helps remove the plaque and bacteria that build up overnight. Starting the day with a clean mouth can help lower the risk of cavities, support healthy gums, and leave their breath feeling fresh.

Importance of Brushing Teeth at Night

Brushing before bed helps clear away plaque, food particles, and debris that collect throughout the day. That matters because plaque left on teeth overnight can raise the risk of cavities and other oral health issues. Keeping nighttime brushing consistent also helps kids build a strong daily routine—and brushing both morning and night gives their teeth and gums better protection than brushing just once a day.

Importance of Brushing Teeth After Meals

Brushing after meals helps remove food particles and reduce plaque buildup, especially if your child often eats sugary or starchy foods that can contribute to cavities.

Oral Hygiene Tips for Kids

With so many health risks associated with poor oral hygiene, caring for their smiles early on is a given. As kids grow, they need to adjust their daily routine to better fit their developing oral care needs as well. Here are some kids’ oral hygiene tips to help along the way:

• Gently clean tender gums: Before their first tooth even comes in, use a washcloth to gently rub gums after every feeding.
• Opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush: Once their first tooth comes in, gently brush with a soft-bristled baby toothbrush that’s designed specifically for kids’ small mouths. Look for features such as extra-soft bristles and an ergonomic handle that’s designed for parents' hands for easier brushing. Pair with a ‘smear’ of fluoride toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• Brush with an electric toothbrush: From age 3, a child can use an age-appropriate electric toothbrush with adult supervision. An electric toothbrush may help remove more plaque than a manual toothbrush, depending on the brush and how it is used. Use a ‘smear’ of fluoride toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• Floss daily: Floss their teeth once a day for them until they have the technique down on their own, usually around ages 8 to 10. Flossing removes trapped food debris and plaque bacteria from tight spaces and those pesky hard-to-reach areas where cavities are more likely to form.
• Add a rinse: For children age 6 and older, a fluoride mouthrinse may help prevent cavities when used as directed.
• Make brushing fun: Sing to them while brushing or turn it into a game, choose an electric toothbrush featuring their favorite character, or brush with the Disney Magic Timer App, which helps kids brush 2X longer.

How to Clean Baby Teeth and Tender Gums

Before teeth appear, gently wipe your baby’s gums with a damp washcloth after each feeding. Follow these steps to brush your baby’s teeth once they make their debut:

• Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day, preferably after feedings and before bedtime.
• Use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush to gently brush baby’s teeth and gums.
• Use a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• Gently brush your baby’s teeth using small, circular motions.
• Focus on your little one’s gum line and tooth surfaces as you brush.
• Schedule a first visit to a pediatric dental professional as soon as that first tooth appears or before their first birthday.

How to Brush Your Toddler's Teeth

Continue to brush your child’s teeth until the age of 6 to ensure you cover every spot and build healthy brushing habits early on.

• Brush their teeth twice a day for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes each time.
• At age 3 and older, an age-appropriate electric toothbrush may be used with supervision and may help with plaque removal.
• Use a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• Angle the kids’ toothbrush at 45 degrees to the gums.
• Use small circular motions as you glide the toothbrush along their gumline.
• Brush all teeth surfaces including front, back, and chewing surfaces.
• Have your child spit out the toothpaste.
• Do not rinse with water right after brushing to retain the benefits of fluoride.
• Pull up the Disney Magic Timer app to make brushing more fun—they’ll brush up to 2X longer with fun challenges and rewards!
• Encourage good habits with rewards or praise for a job well done.

How to Brush Teeth for Kids 6+

Now that they’ve graduated to being a big kid, it’s time for independent brushing! Make sure to brush alongside them as they develop the proper brushing technique. Follow these steps to show your child how to brush their teeth as they practice doing it all on their own:

• Have them brush twice a day for 2 minutes each session.
• An electric toothbrush for kids ages 6+ can be a helpful option for plaque removal. Look for a brush head that fits comfortably in their mouth.
• Apply a pea-sized amount of stannous fluoride toothpaste for kids 6+ to help protect tooth enamel from everyday sugars and acids between brushings.
• Show your child how to hold their kid’s toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline.
• Let them glide the brush across their teeth as the electric toothbrush does the work for them—there’s no need to scrub!
• Make sure they cover all areas of the tooth including the front, back, and chewing surfaces.
• Always know they’re brushing for the full 2 minutes with the 2-Minute Music Timer—once the music stops, they’re all done!
• Gently brush the tongue to remove bad breath germs and plaque.
• Let them spit out the toothpaste but avoid rinsing right after brushing to retain the anticavity benefits of fluoride.
• Reward them for a job well done!

As your child’s smile develops, their oral care needs to adapt to them as well. Electric toothbrushes for teens can help as they navigate the challenges of braces, bad breath, and sensitivity. Brush heads designed for a gentler clean protect sensitive teeth and gums while effectively removing harmful bacterial plaque. Meanwhile other brush heads developed for a more targeted clean reach in hard-to-reach areas such as in-between braces, making them the perfect kid toothbrush for teens—with or without braces.

Developing and maintaining a good brushing technique is key to removing plaque from teeth and gums and preventing cavities. A thorough oral care routine from an early age can help reduce the risk of developing more serious issues as they grow.

Kids Oral Care Recommendations

Complete Your Child’s Oral Care Routine

• Brush your baby’s tender gums and teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush like the Oral-B Manual Toothbrush for Kids 0-2 twice a day for two minutes each session.
• Use a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• At age 3 and older, an age-appropriate electric toothbrush can be a helpful option with supervision.
• Pair their electric toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste specially designed for kids to help fight off cavities like those from the Crest Kids’ line of fluoridated toothpastes.
• Encourage healthy habits with the Disney Magic Timer App which helps kids brush up to 2X longer.
• For big-kid brushing at age 6, have your child brush for the full dentist-recommended 2 minutes—most Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes for kids come equipped with a vibrating timer so they can get a more complete clean.
• Visit their dental professional twice a year for professional cleanings and checkups.

Choose the oral care products that fit your child’s age and brushing needs.