BRUSHING
Dr. Molly Gunsaulis encourages parents to brush their child’s teeth prior to age 6. Once they feel their child has developed proper hand-eye coordination, parents can move into a supervisory role. Dr. Gunsaulis knows this can be a tricky assignment with some children. Don’t lose heart, we can guide you through this process and we routinely give parents the support they need. The following instructions are a good starting point.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a pea. When you brush your child’s teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under the 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 you several minutes to thoroughly brush your child’s teeth. Always brush in circles, and never brush in a side to side action.
Brush your child’s teeth at least two times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:
- In the morning
- At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your child’s toothbrush with a new one. Do not allow them to swallow any toothpaste; rinse their mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.
FLOSSING
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. Once Dr. Gunsaulis has examined your child’s mouth she can recommend what age you will need to start flossing your child’s teeth. Once your child has reached this critical age, it will be very important to floss 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 they go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your child’s gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let us know at your next appointment.