How Early should You start Teaching Kids to Brush?

One of the most daunting challenges parent face in raising their children is instilling in them good habits while trying to make sure that they do not develop bad ones.  This is especially true of habits that affect their health.  But many of the tools parents need are already there as young children are often eager to learn and can’t help but imitate us.  Because of this, parents should take advantage of every opportunity they can to teach their children healthy dental habits.  But when exactly should you introduce your child to dental hygiene?  What is the right age to teach your child to brush and when should he or she be allowed to brush his/her own teeth?

Naturally, from the time a child’s first teeth begin emerge many dentist recommend that parents should begin to clean their children’s teeth themselves.  Some dentists recommend that parents should wait until three teeth in a row have come out.  The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (ADP) recommend using a rice-sized amount of tooth paste for on a baby’s first teeth and a pea-sized amount on a 2 or 3 year-old’s teeth.  In either case, you should brush your child’s teeth twice a day so that he/she can learn to brush.  Dentists do not recommend that children brush their own teeth until after the age of 6 or 7 as they lack the coordination to do so properly.  Finally, impress upon your child the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and your child may develop habits that will last a lifetime.  Family Dental Health Plans help you reach Ameriplan dental providers who can give you more tips on developing health dental habits in your child.  Not only that, but Ameriplan providers are affordable as well.