When can my child brush on their own?

There is no specific age for when a child is ready to brush its own teeth. However, starting at a young age begins to instill the importance of brushing and flossing. Start by brushing your child's teeth when the first couple of teeth come in around age 1. Then, progress to having them brush their own teeth while you supervise around age 3+. After a couple of years of supervised brushing, a child may be ready to brush properly on their own.

These ages are an estimate and age should not be the sole indicator for when children are ready to brush on their own. Instead, pay attention to their ability to manually move the toothbrush in circular motions to effectively remove plaque. Children who are ready to brush on their own will also display an understanding of never swallowing toothpaste. Lastly, ensure you are able to hold your child accountable to trust that they will brush twice a day. To ensure your child's oral cavity has been effective, bring them for their routine cleaning and exam at NexGen Dentistry in National City, California.