There seems to be a day for everything; as dentists we particularly like this one…National Brush Day!  What better day to ensure you are brushing your teeth than the day after Halloween!

National Brush Day highlights the importance of making sure kids brush for 2 minutes, two times a day.    We recommend parents start brushing their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts with a rice grain size amount of toothpaste with fluoride.    We recommend continuing with a rice grain size amount of fluoridated toothpaste until 3 years old and then it can be increased to a pea sized amount from ages 3 to 6.     Parents should stay involved until about 8 years old when children have the manual dexterity to do it themselves, however the longer parents can stay involved the better!

Here are a few tips to ensure you are doing a great job!

• Place toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and brush right along the gumline
• Brush all surfaces of the teeth- outer, inner and chewing surfaces
• When brushing your child’s teeth try to come from behind as it feels more natural, as if you were brushing your own teeth
• Try to make it fun- allow your child to choose their brush or characters on their toothpaste

Happy National Brush Day!!!