The 10 Most Common Questions Parents Have About Their Child’s Dental Care

1. My child grinds their teeth. Is this normal?

Quick Answer: It’s not uncommon.

Details:

• When it starts: As early as 18 months, potentially lasting until age 6.

• Why it happens: Theories range from improving breathing during sleep (due to large tonsils/adenoids) to stress, sleep disturbances, or even frequent allergies/ear infections.

• Does it hurt? Surprisingly, kids don’t usually experience the jaw pain or tooth sensitivity that adults do.

• Will they outgrow it? Most likely, yes. Pediatric dentists typically don’t recommend night guards for young children due to tolerance issues, choking hazards, and minimal impact on their teeth.

• Teens still grinding? Talk to your dentist.

  
  

2. How can I brush my child’s teeth if they don’t want to?

Quick Tips:

• Common Struggle: Many parents face meltdowns from their toddlers during brushing time.

• Why it matters: Even at 1 or 2 years old, kids can develop serious cavities if their teeth aren’t brushed properly.

Pro Tips for Wild Toddlers:

• Bath Time Brushing: Some kids are more cooperative in the tub.

• Sink Seat Show: Sit them on the sink, let them watch a fun YouTube show (try Elmo brushing videos!).

• Towel Wrap & Lay Down: Gently wrap your child in a towel, lay them down, and brush their teeth with them safely secured.

Key Takeaway: Ensure you’re brushing along the gumline—often easiest when your child is lying down or at eye level.

3. Until what age should I brush my child’s teeth?

Quick Answer: Help brush at least once a day until they can tie their own shoelaces.

Why: Kids might want to brush solo, but most under 4 just chew the brush and suck off the toothpaste.

Think of it this way: If you left your three-year-old in the bath to wash themselves, how clean would they be? The same goes for brushing!

Pro Tip: Check for orange staining along the gum lines after they brush—this signals missed spots and a need for more help from you.

4. What kind of toothpaste should we be using?

Quick Answer: Regular toothpaste works fine—just use a tiny “smear” (size of a grain of rice) for kids under 3.

What’s the deal with ‘Infant Toothpaste’? It’s marketed for kids under 3 because it lacks fluoride, but using the correct amount of regular toothpaste is safe and effective.

5. Should we floss first, then brush, or brush then floss?

Quick Answer: Either way is good, as long as you’re doing both daily!

For the Detail-Oriented:

• Best Practice: Floss first to loosen debris, then brush it away.

• Using mouth rinse? Use it last to swish away any remaining bits and freshen breath.

Bonus: If your child’s teeth have wide gaps, no flossing is needed—just a good brushing will do!

Do remember that it is always a great idea to equip yourself with parental dental knowledge, but keep in mind that there may sometimes be a need to still do regular checkups for your children because there could be a myriad of issues that could be detected and prevented early on, thus relieving a lot of future dental issues that your child may have later on.