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Expert Q&A

	By Catrise Austin Cosmetic and General Dentist

Should children see the dentist more frequently and brush differently than adults?

Children and adults should visit the dentist every six months, unless your dentist advises more frequent visits. In addition, these simple steps can help you and your child maintain good oral health throughout your lives:

• Parents and children should brush their teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day, using only a soft toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.
• Parents should supervise tooth brushing. Children older than 2 should use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and rinse with water without swallowing it. By age 6 or 7, your child should be able to brush on their own.
• Children should brush in a circular motion. To make brushing fun, consider buying an electric spin brush for your child.
• Adults should brush in a back and forth motion with the bristles of the toothbrush tilted at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line.
• Parents and children should floss their teeth twice a day. Parents should use floss on their children's teeth as soon as any two teeth touch to remove plaque where a toothbrush can't reach.
• Choose products that carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months – sooner if the bristles become frayed. Children's toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adults do.

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