Tooth brushing do's and dont's

Do

• Seek advice and guidance from local Dentists and Hygienists.
• Inform parents of your intentions and seek their written consent.
• Ask parents to provide their children with tooth brushing “kits”. Those kits should include toothbrushes, toothpaste and shallow plastic drinking cups. All items should have the names of individual children on them. The cups could be clean, used yoghurt tubs and are for rinsing after brushing.
• Store each tooth brushing kit in an individual, sealable plastic container with the name of the child written clearly on the lid and on the side. A used margarine or ice cream tub will do. Ideally the tub should be shallow enough to be kept in child’s personal items drawer.
• Organise children into small manageable groups and take turns at the wash basins.
• Turn taps on and off for children.
• When necessary, demonstrate cleaning your own teeth in front of children. Children love to copy and this is a good way of getting them started.
• Let older children brush in the same groups as younger children. The younger children will copy the older ones.
• Watch and check that children clean thoroughly – back teeth, front teeth, next to the tongue, next to the roof of the mouth and next to the cheeks. In other words – all around, inside and out.
• If you physically assist children make sure that you wash your hands between each child. Better still wear a new pair of disposable rubber gloves between each child.
• Ensure that tooth read more