Good oral health habits start young. With the right techniques, brushing your child’s teeth can be a fun bonding experience that ensures a strong foundation for a lifetime of good oral hygiene. To celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Rosa Pelaez-Shelton, assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, shares expert-backed strategies to keep your child’s oral health routine in tip top shape.

What are some simple ways parents can make brushing fun for young kids?

For optimal results, brushing your teeth should take at least two minutes. A fun way to time this is to brush to your child’s favorite song!

When your child is older and able to brush by independently, brushing along with them is a fun way to engage the family in good habits from an early age.

At what age should children start brushing on their own, and how can parents support good technique?

A great indicator to know when a child is ready to brush independently is when they can tie their shoes on their own. This shows that they have the appropriate hand skills to, not only hold the toothbrush correctly, but also have the ability to brush each tooth with the right technique.  Parents can help guide their children by encouraging gentle circular motion from where the gums start and covering the entire surface of the teeth. If we want to be more specific, the tooth brush should be at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line to remove as much plaque as possible.

What toothbrushes or toothpaste features work best for kids?

A soft-bristled toothbrush is best for kids. We recommend using a child-sized toothbrush so that it fits appropriately in the child’s mouth and is able to reach the molars in the back. Even though electric toothbrushes can be very effective, conventional toothbrushes are too if used correctly.

There is an easy way to calculate how much toothpaste to use for your child. If a child is under the age of 3, use the size of a grain of rice twice a day.  If a child is older than three, use a pea-sized amount twice a day. We recommend using children’s toothpaste on baby teeth as adult toothpaste can have abrasive ingredients that can damage the thin layers of children’s teeth.

What common mistakes do parents make when teaching kids to brush and how can they fix them?

The most common mistake is allowing them to brush independently a little too soon. Parents should supervise brushing until around the ages of 7 to 8.

Another mistake is not knowing where to position yourself when brushing your child’s teeth. It is always better to be behind the child and allow them to tilt their heads back or, when they are younger, lay them down to be able to access all teeth much better.

Any other advice?

Parents should start oral hygiene habits the moment they see the first tooth, even if they are not eating solids yet. After nursing or feeding using a baby bottle, parents can wipe off the teeth using a clean cloth, gauze or dental wipes. As more teeth start coming in, parents can begin using a baby-sized toothbrush or finger-held toothbrush.