Importance of Cleaning Teeth
School Age Kids K-5
The health of our teeth and mouth are linked to overall health and well-being.
How to Brush and Floss the Teeth
School Age Kids K-5
Children who maintain good oral health habits up until the teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral hygiene. It is important to brush the teeth for 2 minutes whenever brushing and to switch out the toothbrush every 3 months.
How to Brush
- Put a pea size amount of
toothpaste on the toothbrush.
- Use a back and forth motion to
brush the top of the molars. Make sure to brush the very back teeth.
- Use a back and forth motion to
brush the sides of the teeth.
- When finished brushing the
teeth, brush the tongue.
- The Colgate website has good
directions and pictures for how to brush the teeth.
Website: How to Brush.
How to Floss
- Use a string of floss 18
inches long. Wrap the piece of floss around the middle finger of each hand.
There should be about an inch of floss between the 2 fingers.
- Grip the floss between the
thumb and index finger (finger next to thumb) of each hand.
- Start with the lower front
teeth, then floss the upper front teeth. Next, work around to all of the
other teeth.
- Work the floss gently between
the teeth until it reaches the gumline. Curve the floss around the edge of
the tooth in the shape of the letter “C” and slide it up and down the side
of each tooth. Do this for both sides of every tooth, one side at a time.
- Adjust the floss a little each
time when flossing a new tooth so the floss is clean for each one.
- Colgate has a great
explanation on how to floss.
How to Floss Website
Shedding of the Primary Teeth
School Age Kids K-5
That first loose tooth can be exciting to some children but upsetting to others. Children need to be reassured that losing primary teeth is a natural process and new adult teeth will come in their place. The first tooth to fall out is usually one of the lower front teeth. This generally occurs at six to seven years of age, with girls experiencing loose teeth earlier than boys. Up to a year or two earlier or later than this age could be perfectly normal for a child. There are great children's books to inform children on oral health and what to expect in such situations.
List of Children's Books
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