Sunshine Dental
2525 36 St NE #117 Calgary AB T1Y 5T4 (403) 293-7545
https://sunshinedental.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SunshineD-Logo.jpg

facebook twitter-square instagram chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down x phone location share chevron-thin-right calendar left-quote right-quote black-star-glasses-png eye book-appointment-maroon-icon-(1) types-of-services-white-icon-(1) location-white-icon next2 previous2 forward3 backward2 star-full arrow-left2

Calgary, AB

(403) 293-7545
single blog hero

How to Get Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Accepting New Patients

Request Appointment

Dental hygiene is just as important for children as it is for adults, but your little ones might not understand the importance of keeping their teeth clean. They might not even know when to brush or how to do it correctly!

Fortunately, we know all about proper dental hygiene for people of all ages. Read on to learn how often your children should brush their teeth, the best ways for them to do it, and of course, a few strategies for motivating them to do it by themselves.

Two happy babies holding toothbrushes while brushing teeth

Why Is Brushing Important for Kids?

You might be wondering why children need to brush their teeth at all. Don’t baby teeth fall out after a few years? Why all the fuss about keeping them clean?

Many people don’t realize baby tooth decay can cause infections that can spread to other parts of the mouth, including the permanent teeth growing below them. As such, parents must ensure their children start practicing excellent dental hygiene early in life to protect the teeth they’ll have as adults.

Healthy baby teeth also allow your child to chew food and speak comfortably, so keeping them clean improves your child’s quality of life. Besides, the sooner your kids master healthy brushing habits, the easier they’ll find it to clean their permanent teeth consistently once those teeth arrive.

How Often Should Your Children Brush Their Teeth?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends brushing your child’s teeth for them until they are 3 years old. Once they reach age 3, it’s time for them to start learning how to do it for themselves, although you’ll probably want to supervise them until age 6 or so to make sure they’re doing a thorough job.

Children should brush their teeth for 2 minutes at least twice a day: once after breakfast and once before going to bed. Brushing at night is especially important since our mouths produce less saliva during sleep than they do while we are awake. 

Since saliva helps to keep the mouth clean by flushing away bacteria, your child’s teeth will be more vulnerable to bacteria at night and must be as clean as possible before you put them to sleep.

Proper Brushing Technique for Children

Brushing often won’t protect your children’s teeth if they don’t know how to do it effectively. Here’s a list of some tips your child can use to make sure they brush correctly:

  • Floss at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque from areas that toothbrushes can’t clean.
  • Position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle from the teeth and tilt the bristles towards the gum line.
  • Brush each tooth with gentle circles before moving on to the next one. Make sure to clean every surface on each tooth, including the top (where the uneven surface can more easily trap bacteria).
  • Use the tip of the brush for the front teeth.
  • Avoid brushing too hard or “scrubbing,” as this can damage the gums.

Encouraging Your Children to Brush Their Own Teeth

Knowing when and how your children should brush their teeth is all well and good—but how can you make them do it? Here are a few creative ideas for motivating your child to clean their own teeth.

Smiling child, mother, and father brushing their teeth in the mirror

Set an Example

Children learn an incredible amount of their behaviour from watching their parents, and you can use that to your advantage when teaching them to brush! Turn brushing into a fun, parent-child activity by letting them watch you brush first and then trying it out for themselves. Make sure to get down on their level so they can see what you’re doing!

Let Them Choose Their Own Toothbrush

Letting your child pick out a toothbrush they like can turn brushing into a rite of passage instead of a mundane task. The more attached your child is to their toothbrush, the more excited they’ll be to use it when the time comes!

Turn Brushing Into a Game

Try to find something your child is already interested in doing and make it part of the brushing experience. For example: if your child loves music, try playing their favourite song in the bathroom and have them brush to the beat! For competitive children, turn brushing into a contest and see who can get their teeth cleanest in 2 minutes.

You can also turn brushing into a let’s-pretend-style game for imaginative children. Tell them that their teeth are covered in “cavity monsters” that they can scare away by brushing properly.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Remember: you want your children to look forward to brushing their teeth, so it’s a good idea to incentivize them a little. Make sure you compliment them on a job well-done. You can even use a sticker-chart to mark down days when they brush their teeth exceptionally well and award healthy treats or small prizes when they collect enough stickers.

Strong Brushing Habits Help Your Kids Have Healthy Teeth for Life

Learning to brush correctly in childhood is the single best thing your children can do to protect their permanent teeth.

Use the ideas above to get your kids excited about proper brushing, and refer to the other information we’ve included so that you can check on their progress.

Finding Us Is Easy

Located in Sunridge Mall, NE Calgary

Visit us in the Lower Level of Sunridge Mall in NE Calgary. We are next door to Old Navy and the West Mall Entrance, with direct outside access from the parking lot. We offer direct insurance billing. We handle all the paperwork, so you don’t have to!

Open evenings and weekends for your convenience.

Address

#117 2525 36 Street NE
Calgary , T1Y5T4

Contact Information

Phone: (403) 293-7545
Email: [email protected]

Hours

Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

Our Location

Visit us in the Lower Level of Sunridge Mall in NE Calgary. We are next door to Old Navy and the West Mall Entrance, with direct outside access from the parking lot. We offer direct insurance billing. We handle all the paperwork, so you don’t have to!

Open evenings and weekends for your convenience.

Located in Sunridge Mall, NE Calgary

#117 2525 36 Street NE
Calgary , T1Y5T4

Contact Information

Phone: (403) 293-7545
Email: [email protected]
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

The Process is Simple

Request an
Appointment

Call or come see us. We’ll schedule you in for a time that works for you.

Get Your
Consultation

One of our general dentists will take a look and evaluate your oral health.

Request
Your Treatment

We'll work with you to schedule the next steps to get you on your way to a healthy and beautiful smile.

Enjoy
Direct Billing

Leave all the paperwork to us. We deal with all insurance companies so you don't have to. We also direct bill and take insurance assignment.

The Process is Simple

Request an
Appointment

Call or come see us. We’ll schedule you in for a time that works for you.

Get Your
Consultation

One of our general dentists will take a look and evaluate your oral health.

Request
Your Treatment

We'll work with you to schedule the next steps to get you on your way to a healthy and beautiful smile.

Enjoy
Direct Billing

Leave all the paperwork to us. We deal with all insurance companies so you don't have to. We also direct bill and take insurance assignment.

Request an Appointment

Submit a form to request an appointment, someone will be in contact within 24 hours to book.