Do you think a four-year-old should be able to brush his own teeth? My son wants to, and I think I remember my siblings being allowed to brush their own teeth at four, but I'm just not sure that he'll do a good enough job.
I'd appreciate hearing whether you let or would let your child of that age brush his/her own teeth.
Thank you!
~A.~
Thanks everyone for your input!
My son was delighted to be allowed to brush his own teeth tonight, and didn't mind one bit that I followed up with a little extra scrubbing. I also appreciate the tips about the cool toothbrushes to help him learn to do a better job as time passes.
Thanks again!
~A.~
I tell my 3-year-old to brush the teeth he'd like to keep. Then, I follow-up when he's done.
Best of luck.
I let my daughter with supervision she's now 6.5 and I'm still weird about making her go back and in and redo or do a better job.
I am a dental hygienist, and I think a 4 year old can and should brush his own teeth, however, I think that it is very important for some supervision. Let them do the brushing and you observe and then follow up after they are done. Eventually you will see how they improve and you won't need to help them as much as time goes by, Or you will only need to follow up brushing as you see needed. Don't forget routine dental check-ups two times a year.
Depending on what your habits are, I would say let him start doing it on his own in the morning, and have him let you do it in the evening before bed. That way, he's given some independence but your still covering the bases!
HI,
My son is 4 1/2 and has been brushing his own teeth for a year. He actually does better than my 10yr old. He does brush at the same time as his sister, so she puts the toothpaste on for him.
I would make sure to be in the room with him, but let him do the actual brushing by himself. There are light up toothbrushes at Target that go for like a minute or two so they know how long to brush.. My son loves his...
Hi A.
I let my children brush there own teeth at 4. My rule was every other day I also needed to brush them. They have a mouthwash for children to rinse with before they brush that dyes the plauq blue so they can easily brush it away. :)T.
Our kids' dentist says parents should help them brush until they are at least 7. I was really surprised, but he says they don't really get a "handle" on thouroughly brushing until then.
What I do is let them brush on their own, but check them and follow-up after. I use those mouthrinses that leave blue or pink stuff on their teeth where there's tartar residue to help see if they brushed good enough. If they miss alot, that's where I follow up.
So far, no reports of cavities, so it must be working!
Sure! Let him do it himself, but supervise and do a follow-up brushing every couple nights. I tell my 5-year-old it's just to be sure. I also have him do a "tongue test" where he rubs his tongue over every part of every one of his teeth to make sure they're all "slippery smooth".
I let my four year old do it himself and then I go back in there and do it again. That way he feels good he did it himself and I feel good that his teeth are clean.
my youngest sister is 6 and she still does not do a good enough job brushing her teeth so my mom got her hector spector plaque detector. it is something that they rinse with that turns their teeth blue so that as they brush the blue goes away. that way you can ensure that they are brushing well enough.
I would let your 4 year old do it but I would tell him beforehand that you will finish after him or you brush before and let him brush after. I don't let my 3.5 year old do it and I'm not sure when I'll let her. I had cavities early in age and I wonder if my Mom let me brush by myself too soon.
