{"id":328,"date":"2025-04-16T18:01:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/?p=328"},"modified":"2025-04-16T18:01:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:01:56","slug":"brushing-your-childs-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/16\/brushing-your-childs-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Young Smiles Clean: A Guide to Brushing Your Child\u2019s Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AdobeStock_605778303-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Little girl with pigtails brushing her teeth\" class=\"wp-image-329\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you want to protect your little one\u2019s smile, you need to make sure that they adopt the right oral hygiene habits early in life. This means brushing their teeth for them at first before eventually teaching them to do so on their own. Of course, some parents may find this to be a daunting prospect, but luckily, your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">preventive dentist<\/a> is here with 4 tips that can make it easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Start Brushing Your Child\u2019s Smile as Early as Possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should get in the habit of cleaning your baby\u2019s mouth before they even get their first tooth. Whenever they finish eating, wipe their gums with a damp washcloth. Not only does this help stop harmful bacteria from building up, but it also gives your baby a chance to become accustomed to having their mouth cleaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your baby gets their first tooth, you can use a damp washcloth, a finger brush, or a gauze pad to clean it. After a sufficient number of teeth have erupted, you can start properly brushing them with a baby-sized toothbrush. Remember to only use a rice-sized amount of toothpaste at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Make Sure Your Child Learns About the Importance of Brushing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As your child grows up, take the time to explain why brushing their teeth is so important. Make sure they understand that brushing twice a day is essential for preventing gum disease and cavities. This is a crucial step for ensuring that they develop the right mindset toward oral hygiene as they continue to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Teach Your Child How to Brush Properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your child will eventually reach the point where they can brush their teeth on their own, but they won\u2019t automatically know the best way to do so. It will be up to you to teach your child the right brushing techniques. A good way to do this is to let them watch while you brush your own teeth. Kids like to imitate their parents, so if they see the way you brush, they\u2019ll want to copy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Do What You Can to Make Brushing Fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It will be easier to get your child to brush their teeth if you go out of your way to make it enjoyable. Take them to the store and let them pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. You may also want to consider creating a rewards chart to encourage them to turn brushing into an everyday habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Michael Royse is a graduate of The Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry. He has more than 18 years of dental experience, and he is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. At The Dentists at Orenco for Kids in Hillsboro, he offers gentle preventive care for young patients. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Royse, visit his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or call (503) 640-6565.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to protect your little one\u2019s smile, you need to make sure that they adopt the right oral hygiene habits early in life. This means brushing their teeth for them at first before eventually teaching them to do so on their own. Of course, some parents may find this to be a daunting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Brushing Your Child&#039;s Teeth Hillsboro | The Dentists at Orenco for Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The right oral hygiene habits early in life can make a big difference. Here are some tips for brushing your child\u2019s teeth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/16\/brushing-your-childs-teeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brushing Your Child&#039;s Teeth Hillsboro | The Dentists at Orenco for Kids\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The right oral hygiene habits early in life can make a big difference. 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