When Should Children Brush Their Own Teeth?

Here at Northwest Children's Dentistry, your local Tucson pediatric dentist, we get a lot of questions about preventative dental health care.  We love these kinds of questions.  We strongly believe that having good oral health habits will lead to better dental health for your child.

One question we frequently receive: When should children brush their own teeth?   Our answer:  you should continue to assist your child with toothbrushing until they can write cursive.  This usually happens when your child is around 8 years old.  Children do not have a fully developed range of dexterity until that age, so they often will miss areas when brushing, which in turn can cause cavities and other dental problems.

This does not mean you should not encourage your child to try brushing on their own.  Instead, you can have your child brush solo first, then do a follow-up brushing immediately after to clean hard-to-reach spots.  This will keep your child's teeth clean while simultaneously training them to one day take over brushing for themselves.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we care about your children's dental health.  Give us a call if you have questions about your children's toothbrushing habits.

 

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

general dentistry for kids in TucsonDr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are a husband and wife team providing general dentistry for kids in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and surrounding areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children as your local Tucson dentist. If you’re looking for a kids dentist in Tucson, contact us today!