Parents of 5yr olds...do you brush your kids teeth or let them do it themselves?

Question

We've had a lot of problems with my sons teeth and although I do let him brush them I always go over them after he's done to make sure no spots were missed. I feel like I'm going a bit far but also worry because he's had so many cavities even with regular brushing.

Answer 1

My son is cleaning his teeth on his own at 4. Has been since he was 3. He finds it fun to brush on his own. I used to suoervise him everytime to make sure he was brushing properly but now I don't have to because he has learnt to do it properly.  

Answer 2

I still brush my son's teeth sometimes and he's 10 years old.  I don't brush them all the time, but sometimes at night or if he's been away for the weekend then I like to give his teeth a good scrub.  

I know it sounds really ridiculous and he should be able to do it himself but if I left it up to him his teeth would be yellow and he'd have lots of fillings.  He's a typical boy and hates getting washed and brushing his teeth, he just doesn't do it properly.  I'm hoping this will change soon though, especially when he's a teenager and starts to take an interest in his appearance.  

Answer 3

I let my children brush there teeth three times a day, Once in the morning by themselves, Once in the afternoon by themselves and then once before they go to bed they do it themselves but I ALWAYS make sure I brush them over at night time before they go to bed. You aren't going to far, Most parents should be doing this but if you let your son brush his teeth twice a day by him self and then let him do it at night time brush them over to make sure you got everything, It will give him lots of confidence and it will reassure you that they are being done properly.

Good luck and take care

Answer 4

they make some kind of mouth wash for kids that when they spit it out it shows all the stuff they missed while brushing, i don't know what company makes it but get some then make it a game to see who can get the clearest mouthwash

Answer 5

My son is 4 now and I brush his teeth 1st and let him do it after. He misses so many spots LOL  

Answer 6

My boys have been brushing their own teeth since they were 3 years old.  I will be in there with them usually because i am brushing mine so i see them brushing but I don't brush them for them anymore and they haven't had any cavities and the dentist said their teeth look great.  

Answer 7

No, not since they were two years old.   They've master the task and happily do it themselves.   Sometimes though, I like to do it for them they won't let me do it.  4 1/2 and 6 years old.    

Answer 8

Just let him do it.  Make it a game and brush yours along with him and let him see how well you handle the brush so it rubs off on him.  

It gives him independence and know that he will have to take over some time so if you allow him to keep bad habits now then it will get worse in the future.  Get yourself and wind up clock and set it for 4 or 5 minutes and let him race the time making it a game.  This will give him positive reinforcement for the act and get him interested in doing well.

Answer 9

At 5yo my kids brushed their own teeth first, I would do the *touch up* brushing when they were through.