Child Brushing Teeth

My dentist parents should brush their child's teeth until age 9 because the just don't have the dexterity to get all the sugar bugs on their own. I often let me kid start and then I finish the job.

I am in dental hygiene school, and I don't see kids brushing their teeth properly on their own until at least 10. I'm just being honest here. And once they get their adult teeth, and they are touching, they need to be flossing also, and using mouthwash. I still brush my daughters for her at 5. My son at 10 has good skills, but I still watch him and give him pointers about once a week.

My DD's dentist says to double check/ closely supervise until 8. She is 3 now, so we brush out own, and when I am done with mine I do hers over.

I do know that dental issues can be hereditary. For example... My family has strong teeth. Even though I was never taught to brush regularly when I was young, I never had a cavity until I was an adult. My SIL's family is plagued with horribly weak teeth... Her son, even tough she is fanatical about making sure his sugar is limited, and brushes his teeth after every meal, has already had five cavities by the time he was 6. Even his dentist says that there really isn't much they can do, until his adult teeth come in. Then they will have to be protected with veneers.

I know most people are saying 8, but I have a girl who is almost 6 and has insisted on doing it herself without help for almost a year. My mom didn't let us do it all by ourselves until we were 8 but somehow my brother ended up with a number of cavities and I did not. Sometimes I end up doing it myself because DD is too tired at bedtime and just wants me to do it. But she goes for a dental check-up every 6 months and so far everything is perfect. I know some of it is genetic - I never had a cavity until I went to college at 18 and that's been my only one so far, and I think she inherited those genes from me. Friends of ours have a daughter who just turned 6 and has had 1 cavity after another - they are super-diligent about brushing teeth, no sweet sticky stuff, etc. but they said they both have poor enamel on their teeth and it's no surprise their daughter is the same way.

Our pediatric dentist advised waiting until they are 8 to allow them to do it themselves. That said, our 7-year old has been doing very well for quite awhile on his own. We still help the little one. Sounds like your kids do a good job, and it's great that they know the routine and stick with it. Check with your dentist next time they go in.

Our dentist says under the age of 8, follow up yourself. My DD will practice, either before or after I brush them for her. We also floss her teeth nightly.

ETA: I agree that genetics has a role, but I totally disagree with letting them do whatever. Even though my SD is prone to cavities and SS was not, there were things she could do to prevent worse ones. And gingivitis.

Your kids teeth enamel comes from your DNA and hubbies. If their enamel is weak there's not much you can do to prevent cavities. If they have strong enamel they won't have cavities even if they never brush their teeth again.

It's not a bad thing to really work with the kids to teach them to keep a clean mouth but it's not worth fighting with them over it

I think that depends on the kid! While 8 is a good guide line, it isn't always right. My 13 son is terrible about his teeth, I still brush his teeth often but not every night. My 7 year old does a better job and has been doing a better job since he was 5. We use "disclosure" tablets every so often to help them know how well they are doing. (That's the chewy tablet that turns the plack red/purple to help them know what they missed). And that helps a lot!

I brush their teeth but I let them do it first. The 2 YO insists he does it by himself, lol.

I've read until age 8 is best for the parent to do it, but I think I might go until 10 or so, then really, really instruct them how to do it. I hear parents of 12 YO's who are so guilty their tween is having problems and wish they would have still helped brush. I know at that age I barely brushed. Wish my parents would have stepped in. I never had a cavity though in my life, but I sure needed better habits or instruction. My other sibling never had help either and has a mouth full of cavities and root canals at age 20. It's sad.

My boys are 7 & 4. I "rebrush" my 4 year old's teeth most nights and my 7 year old's teeth once or twice a week. I do watch him out of the corner of my eye while I'm helping his little brother. When I do "rebrush" their teeth I usually say, "Mommy's turn."

I don't know if there is a recommended age, per say. I just know that one aren't quite there yet.

I helped with tooth brushing till our son was about 8.
He could brush himself but if I wasn't happy with the results I'd go over them again.
When he had braces for a few years he'd ask for help - it was hard to get between all the wires.
I wasn't about to allow any excuse for stinking breath.
So far, so good - he's only had one cavity in his 14 years.

Awhile....my DD is only 2 and so I let her brush then I brush her again. My 9 year old nephew still needs supervision, but mostly because he doesn't want to take time to brush and so has to be prodded. One thing I taught him though that has stuck is for him to sing ABCs all the way through when brushing in an effort to keep him going longer. He was excited to do it when i taught him that trick at about 4 and he still does it to this day, as do I!

I think I went over their teeth at bed time until they were about six. I always let them do the morning brush by themselves.

8's a good general guideline. some kids will be aces at 5, some just don't get the importance and need a degree of oversight into their teens.
my older was and is lax about it. i kept on him until he was an adult! my younger has been meticulous since he was a little fella.
khairete
S.

My MIL who used to work for a dentist said it's good to wait until about 2nd grade (or about 8) to let them brush by themselves. She said they don't have the manual dexterity to brush well before then. I still brush my 7 yo's teeth but she's starting to practice on her own more now.

My kids have always brushed their own teeth. They are 5 and 3. They have no dental problems.

I have no clue if they do a "good" job. I model good teeth brushing to them often, and I have no doubt they will be good at it.

Our dentist said that until they are 8, the parent "takes a turn".

My 5yr old can brush pretty good but I have to stay on him to do it and still watch how he is doing it. Neighbors 6yr old daughter brushes her teeth everyday twice a day, does a great job, and has 3 cavities. I used to think brushing had a lot to do with it, and it does, but I am realizing that genetics play a big role as well.