In the Know for You to Know
Yes, you make sure your child’s teeth are brushed for 2 minutes 2 times a day, and when their baby teeth are touching you make sure to floss before every night time brushing.
The next question is, is your little one’s tongue getting brushed?
Why Brush Their Tongue?
The tongue is not smooth. It is covered with nooks and crannies which hold onto everything that’s in the mouth. While no one’s tongue will get a cavity, the bacteria and food that’s on and in the tongue can be spread to the teeth which can develop cavities.
Rinsing may loosen the particles but does not remove them. Food and bacteria in the crevices can also cause bad breath, which can be especially noticeable when awakening from sleep.
What To Do?
Brushing your child’s tongue, gently from back to front and side to side is a good start. This takes getting used to doing, along with patience and practice.
What Do We Use?
Some parents prefer a tongue scrapper. It’s okay if you prefer to use one. I find that for ease of use and since you’re brushing it’s as easy to use your child’s soft bristle toothbrush. Toothpaste on the brush is your choice. All you need to do after brushing their tongue is to rinse the tooth brush under running water and then it’s ready to use for tooth brushing.
Toothpaste or No Toothpaste?
The choice is yours when brushing your child’s tongue. If you do use toothpaste you’ll only need a dab, and remember to always use a toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
How Do I Do This?
The 1st time, begin by brushing the tip of their tongue. Be prepared for lots of giggles since this may feel like you are tickling their tongue. Brush from back to front and side to side. Do this for one week so that you both get used to doing this as part of your routine.
The 2nd week, go a little further back to the center of their tongue and brush towards the tip. Brush from back to front and side to side. There may be more giggles and laughing, and as before keep doing this every day.
The 3rd week, go a little further back to be in line with their last teeth (aka their molars). Hold the tooth brush horizontally and in gentle sweeping motions brush towards the tip pf your child’s tongue and side to side. You may or may not need to stop intermittently at this step. If you need to briefly stop this is all right. Stay the course slowly and softly until you can brush without stopping.
How Often Do We Do This?
Every night after you floss, brush your child’s tongue and then their teeth. This way nothing that gets flossed out from in-between their teeth or brushed off their tongue will stay on their teeth; because you will brush everything away during your 2 minutes of tooth brushing.
Once you have your routine in place for your evening brushing, you can then add it to your child’s 2 minutes in the morning brushing.
Now your routine is taking shape! All you both need to do is keep it up. Congratulations!
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