4 Signs Your Child Is Old Enough To Brush Without Supervision

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Pediatric Dental Associates is a dentist for kids Midland Park company. To learn more about us, have a look at our homepage.

The kind of care and attention you give to your child’s oral hygiene varies by age. In the earliest years of your child’s life, you should be brushing for your child. The question then is at what age is your child ready to take on this responsibility on his or her own. Here are seven signs that the time has come.

  1. Your child is between the ages of 5 and 10.

As you can see, the age range is relatively wide. Every child develops a little bit differently. But somewhere between 5 and 10 is the general ballpark of when you can expect your child to start brushing on his or her own. Keep in mind that even though your child is able to brush without supervision, that doesn’t mean that he or she is necessarily going to do it. On the contrary, most kids usually crave getting away with not brushing as much as possible. That’s why you need to constantly plant reminders. Keep close tabs on your child until he or she develops good habits.

  1. Your child is displaying signs of independence.

If your child demonstrates independence with chores and homework, that shows he or she recognizes there are consequences to actions. It suggests that the child understands that certain activities are necessary in life. And that if he or she doesn’t do them, he or she will pay for it in some shape or form in the future. This is key in the journey towards allowing your child to take care of his or her own daily responsibilities, including teeth-brushing.

  1. Your child can tie his or her own sneakers without help.

This is only a general rule of thumb. That said, it is a relatively accurate indicator that your child has reached a point of physical dexterity that will allow him or her to do a thorough job brushing without it accidentally ending in some sort of injury. Teeth-brushing is more complex than just moving the toothbrush back and forth in the same place. The brusher must not only understand the importance of reaching every far corner of the teeth and gums, but also be able to physically so do.

  1. Your child shows signs that suggest he or she recognizes the importance of hygiene.

If your child bathes on his or her own free will because the child recognizes that it is necessarily in order to maintain good health, that’s a sign that the child can also recognize the significance of keeping up with brushing. The most important factor here is that your child is showering on his or her own without your supervision. Or even better, without your reminders.

If you would like to contact Pediatric Dental Associates to schedule an appointment to receive our dentist for kids Midland Park services, give our office a call at (201) 652-7020. We offer our services to clients from all throughout Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Dentist For Kids Midland Park

Specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a warm, caring and "child-friendly" environment.