Teaching to Brush

 

Why difficulties in brushing 

• Due to oral motor sensitivity 
• Child is hypersensitive to touch 

Steps to teach brushing 

  Use a mirror so that the child can see himself

 

• Thicken the brush handle with cloth/plaster/fix a wooden handle if there is a  need for good gripping

• Give a deep pressure massage on the gums with your finger

 

Use a different coloured toothbrush to help child identify his brush

Keep the tooth paste and brush in a place low enough for the child to reach easily 

 

• Teach squeezing the paste from the tube as the last step as it needs fine motor coordination
• Show him how to squeeze the tube and apply required amount of paste on the brush 

• Try toothpaste/gels/powders with different flavours

 

• Initially children may eat paste. 

A little paste swallowed does not harm children

   Gradually train the child to spit 

Give lots of water to drink as it is a natural cleanser

 

• Demonstrate spitting by pouring water into your mouth and spitting it 
• Give child lots of water and immediately bend head down label it as spitting 

• Praise child specifically ‘good spitting’