Brushing and Flossing for Kids in Springfield, MO
Most parents already know the basics. Twice a day. Two minutes. Floss. The harder part is making it stick when your kid is two, or seven, or thirteen and over it. That’s where we come in.
Most parents already know the basics. Twice a day. Two minutes. Floss. The harder part is making it stick when your kid is two, or seven, or thirteen and over it. That’s where we come in.
Before the first tooth: wipe the gums with a clean damp cloth after feedings. It clears bacteria and gets your baby used to having something in there.
First tooth through age 2: a smear of fluoride toothpaste (think a grain of rice) on a soft baby brush. You’re doing the brushing.
Ages 3 to 6: a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Your kid can hold the brush, but you’re still the one doing most of the actual brushing.
Ages 6 to 10: kid brushes, you supervise and finish. Pretty much every kid this age misses spots.
Pre-teen and up: independent, but you’re still spot-checking. The molars in the back are the most-missed area, in our experience.
As soon as two teeth touch, it’s time to floss between them. Floss picks are fine. Once a day. Bedtime is a good habit because it gets the whole day’s food out before sleep.
Water as the main drink. Sippy cups of juice or milk all day are tough on teeth (the constant sugar bath is the issue, not any single drink). Sticky candy and gummy vitamins both hide between teeth and feed cavities. Not asking you to ban anything. Just timing matters.
We’ll show your kid what plaque looks like on their own teeth using disclosing tablets. We’ll demo good technique. And our Mighty Mouth Club rewards kids who come in cavity-free, which kids actually care about.
A confident smile can make a big difference in your child's life. We're here to help every young patient achieve a healthy smile they can be proud to share.