Pediatric dentistry
How to Brush & Floss — Kids’ Dental Tips in Lakewood, CO
The chairside coaching we share with Lakewood families every day, gathered in one place.
The battleground of pediatric dentistry is not our office; it is your bathroom at 7:45 p.m. This guide is the chairside coaching we share with Lakewood, CO families every day at Shining Stars Kids Dentistry, gathered in one place: what to do at each age, how to make it stick, and when to hand the reins to your kid.
Babies and toddlers: you drive, they watch
Brushing starts with the first tooth. A soft infant brush or clean cloth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day. At this age you are doing 100% of the work, and that is correct. Let them hold a second brush and mimic you.
Preschoolers: the apprenticeship years
Ages three to six is when technique gets built, mostly by you, partly by them. The pattern that works: they brush first (practice, ownership, fun), then you do the “checker round” that actually cleans. A pea-sized amount of fluoride paste once they can spit.
Flossing begins the moment two teeth touch. Floss picks make this dramatically easier than string for small hands and parent helpers alike. Wiggles are normal; the goal is consistency, not a perfect mouth every night.
School-age kids: earning independence
Somewhere between ages six and ten, most kids develop the dexterity to brush solo, but supervision should fade gradually. Quick spot checks and reading in the bathroom doorway while they brush keep standards from sliding.
If brackets arrive, we will coach specifically around them. If a season starts, grab a sports guard and keep the brushing rhythm steady.
Habit tips
Making It Stick
Four strategies that work across all ages.
Same Time, Same Place
Habits anchor to routine, not willpower.
Let Them Choose
The brush character and the paste flavor are theirs to pick.
Brush Together
Kids copy parents with spooky accuracy. Make it an "us" activity.
Celebrate the Win
A cavity-free visit earns entry to the No Cavity Kids Club.
Every Cavity-Free Checkup Earns a Celebration
Good brushing and flossing habits are the fastest path to the No Cavity Kids Club. Your child earns recognition at every clean visit.
Pair smart brushing with our nutrition guidance and regular fluoride treatments, and your child’s cavity odds drop dramatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
From the very first tooth. A soft infant brush or cloth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste is plenty for babies. Earlier habits mean brushing feels normal long before anyone is old enough to argue about it.
How long should kids brush?
Two minutes, twice a day is the classic target. For little ones the realistic version is "longer than they want to," so songs, timers, and brushing together as a family are all fair game for stretching the clock.
When does flossing need to start?
As soon as two teeth touch each other. Until kids have the dexterity, floss picks make the job far easier on everyone, and parents doing the flossing is completely normal well into elementary school.
My child refuses to brush. Any tricks?
Choice and company are the two heavy hitters: let them pick the brush and paste flavor, then brush your teeth alongside theirs so it is an "us" activity, not an order. At your next visit, ask us for one of our chairside pep talks; kids often accept coaching from us that they resist from parents.
Is an electric toothbrush better for kids?
A good manual brush with proper technique absolutely gets the job done. That said, many kids brush better and longer with an electric brush simply because it is more fun. Either way, the toothbrush matters less than the two minutes and the daily habit.
Personalized Coaching at Every Checkup
Every mouth and every kid is different. At your child’s next checkup, ask for a hands-on demo tailored to their teeth and their temperament; it is one of our favorite parts of the visit.