Caring for a child’s teeth means brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once teeth touch, limiting sugary drinks and snacks, and keeping up with dental checkups. Redondo Beach Dental Group is in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Cavities are common and mostly preventable. According to the CDC, more than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in their baby teeth. Baby teeth help a child chew and speak and hold space for the adult teeth, so habits at home are worth getting right from the first tooth.
How to Brush Your Child’s Teeth
Use a soft toothbrush with a small head, and brush twice a day for about two minutes: once in the morning and once before bed. Bedtime brushing is the one not to skip, because food left on the teeth overnight has hours to do harm.
Angle the bristles toward the gumline and use small, gentle circles. Clean the outside, the inside and the chewing surface of every tooth, and brush the tongue lightly. Replace the brush when the bristles flare out.
Toothpaste amount by age
- From the first tooth until age 3: a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice.
- From age 3 to 6: a pea-sized amount.
- At every age: teach your child to spit the toothpaste out rather than swallow it.
These amounts come from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Dental Association (ADA). For a baby with no teeth yet, cleaning a baby’s gums with a damp cloth after feedings comes before any toothbrush.
Who should do the brushing
Toddlers and preschoolers cannot brush well alone, so a parent brushes, or lets the child take a turn and then follows with a thorough pass. Many children can brush every surface on their own around age 7 or 8. Until then, check their work, and ask your dentist if you are unsure whether they are ready.
Flossing for Kids
The ADA says to start flossing as soon as two teeth touch, because brushing cannot clean between them. Floss once a day. Young children need an adult to do it, and many parents find floss picks easier to handle in a small mouth than a length of string. Children typically take over flossing on their own around ages 10 to 11, when their hand control catches up.
When Your Child Will Not Brush
Many toddlers go through a stage of fighting the toothbrush, and it does not mean you are doing something wrong. A few approaches tend to help:
- Keep the time and order the same every day. A predictable routine, such as pajamas, brushing, then a story, leaves less room to argue.
- Brush together. Children copy what they see, so let them watch you brush, or let them brush a stuffed animal first.
- Give a small choice, such as which toothbrush to use, and make the two minutes pass with a song or a timer.
- Praise the effort and stay calm on the hard nights. A sticker chart works for some children.
If a child gets very upset or gags every time, mention it at your next visit so a dentist can suggest what may help.
Everyday Habits That Protect Teeth
Each sugary snack or drink exposes teeth to acid, and sipping or grazing keeps that going for hours. A few habits lower the risk:
- Offer water between meals and save juice, milk and sweet drinks for mealtimes. Tap water that contains fluoride is a good choice, and your water company can tell you whether yours does.
- Serve sweets and sticky snacks with a meal rather than slowly through the afternoon.
- Give nothing but water at bedtime, and do not put a child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice.
- For contact sports, a fitted sports mouth guard protects the teeth, lips and gums during play.
Thumb sucking and pacifiers
Sucking is a normal comfort habit in young children, and most stop on their own. The AAPD encourages parents to end thumb, finger and pacifier habits by 36 months, because prolonged sucking can affect how the teeth and jaws develop. If the habit continues past that age, tell your dentist so your child’s bite can be watched.
What Your Dentist Adds
Home care does the daily work, and checkups catch what brushing misses. The AAPD recommends a first dental visit when the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday, the CDC advises a visit by the first birthday, and your child’s first dental visit is a good time to ask about routines, bottles and pacifiers. After that, your dentist sets the schedule for dental cleanings and exams for children based on your child’s cavity risk.
The CDC also suggests asking about fluoride treatment for kids once the first tooth appears, and about dental sealants, thin protective coatings painted on the grooves of the back teeth, when the time is right for your child. Ask whether either makes sense for your child.
Signs to Call the Dentist About
Children often do not say when something hurts. Call the office if you notice:
- White, brown or black spots or lines on a tooth
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums, or a bump on the gum
- A child who avoids chewing on one side, or turns away from cold or sweet foods
- Bad breath that does not go away with brushing
- A chipped tooth, or one that looks darker than the others
These signs do not always mean a cavity, and a dentist can tell the difference. If your child has pain, call rather than wait for the next checkup.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of a child’s visit depends on what is done at it, such as an exam, cleaning or X-rays, and on your plan. Ask us for an estimate before the appointment. We accept PPO plans, and many plans cover preventive care for children, but coverage varies, so ask us how your plan applies. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Who Leads the Practice
Redondo Beach Dental Group is a family practice that provides pediatric dentistry alongside adult care, so parents and children can be patients at the same office. Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads the practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should a parent stop brushing a child’s teeth?
A parent should keep brushing, or at least checking, a child’s teeth until the child can clean every surface well alone, which is often around age 7 or 8. There is no single birthday that fits every child, so watch your child brush, look at the teeth afterward, and ask your dentist if you are unsure.
How much toothpaste should a child use?
A child should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice from the first tooth until age 3, then a pea-sized amount from age 3 to 6. The AAPD and ADA give these amounts, and both say to supervise young children so they spit the toothpaste out instead of swallowing it.
What can I do if my child refuses to brush their teeth?
If your child refuses to brush, keep the routine the same every day, brush together, give a small choice such as which toothbrush to use, and make the two minutes fun with a song or a timer. Skipping brushing is the one thing to avoid, and a dentist can suggest more ideas if a child becomes very upset.
How do I get plaque off my 2-year-old’s teeth?
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that brushing removes, so brush your 2-year-old’s teeth twice a day with a soft brush and a rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to the gumline and the back teeth. Hardened buildup does not come off with brushing, so if you see it, ask your dentist to take a look.
When should kids start flossing?
Kids should start flossing as soon as two of their teeth touch, according to the ADA. A parent does the flossing at first, and children generally take over around ages 10 to 11, so floss picks can make the job easier in the meantime.
Are thumb sucking and pacifiers bad for teeth?
Thumb sucking and pacifier use are normal in babies and toddlers, but prolonged use can affect how the teeth and jaws develop. The AAPD encourages parents to end these habits by 36 months, and a dentist can watch your child’s bite if the habit continues.
Visit Redondo Beach Dental Group
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and bring your questions about your child’s routine.