As you already know, brushing your teeth correctly, especially if you have braces, is the best way to reduce your chances of cavities and gum problems. This section is devoted to our young orthodontic patients who should still be supervised while they're brushing.

Children should be able to see themselves in the mirror when they are flossing or brushing their teeth. A small step stool might be just enough of a "boost" to ensure that they are both high enough to see the mirror, and close enough. (Most kids enjoy being very "up close and personal" with their mirror anyway.) Certainly by eight or nine years old, children have developed the fine motor skills necessary to adequately brush their own teeth. The parent still, however, should plan to be on hand to coach or assist in completing the brushing "ritual."

On flossing, your dentist or orthodontist may have given you some special floss for braces, such as the Eez-Thru® floss threaders. Gentle pressure should be used during flossing to prevent damage to the gum tissues. The floss should be guided toward each side of the tooth, removing any food or plaque still soft enough to remove with floss alone. You may want to floss first, because you might smell a slight odor after you floss, and brushing after flossing will get rid of that smell.

When the child brushes his or her teeth, again, standing in front of a mirror helps. Using a flouride toothpaste is very important, especially if your community's water system does not add flouride to its water supply. Flouride is important to teeth of every age. In very young children, a dentifrice supplement can be used to reach all the surfaces of the teeth they have.

As children get older, brushing with a flouride toothpaste is sufficient. Encourage the child to brush every tooth in a circular motion for about 20 seconds, hitting on the gums just slightly. If a child will spend 20 or 30 seconds on each tooth, they're giving their teeth the best chance possible to avoid those fillings and gum problems later on.

Just a note on the toothbrush: allow your child to choose their own toothbrush. Let them choose what color they want, and give a little leverage on the brand, too. A soft bristle is best for braces. And allow enough time both in the morning and at bedtime for the child to spend enough time to brush their teeth. They won't thank you now, but they will later on, especially after those braces come off.

Disclaimer:

The information in this newsletter is only for the purpose of providing you with information regarding your orthodontic care and treatment. It is not intended to offer any medical or dental advice. Please contact your own dentist or orthodontist for treatment, appliances, or instructions that are right for you.