Dental Health Pediatric Dentistry Promote Good Dental Hygiene With Teeth Brushing Charts By Shawn Watson Shawn Watson Shawn Watson is an orthodontic dental assistant and writer with over 10 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 01, 2022 Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS Edmund Khoo, DDS, is board-certified in orthodontics and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Print Many kids have a tough time remembering to brush and floss their teeth twice daily. It’s important to start teaching kids healthy dental hygiene habits from a young age. Having good habits early on will set them on track for a lifetime of good habits. MoMo Productions / Getty Images A toothbrushing chart is such a fun way to help kids remember to brush and floss their teeth every day. It also gives you a bit of reassurance knowing that this important daily task isn’t being forgotten. The chart works just like a chore chart, which you might already have in place. The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene Your child’s dental future is affected by early dental hygiene. Poor brushing habits in early childhood lead to tooth decay, and tooth decay in primary teeth increases the risk of decay in permanent teeth. Good oral health generally leads to good overall health, so start teaching the importance of proper oral hygiene skills early on. As a parent, you are your child’s first role model. Present toothbrushing as a twice-daily ritual and explain the importance of maintaining a proper routine. Supervise brushing, even if your child can wield a toothbrush. Although kids might be able to mimic the motions of brushing teeth, they typically can‘t brush their teeth on their own effectively until after they are about 5 years old. Continue to supervise twice-daily brushing and flossing to make sure they’re doing a proper job. As more permanent teeth begin to appear over time, it becomes even more important to practice good oral hygiene. The combination of primary and permanent teeth, loose teeth, gaps, and new teeth makes brushing a bit more difficult and poses an increased risk of tooth decay. All of these changes make it even more important for your child to practice good oral hygiene. Free Toothbrushing Charts If your child has a hard time remembering to brush their teeth on their own, use a toothbrushing chart to encourage the healthy habit. Your child will be eager to brush in no time. Here are free toothbrushing charts: Happy Tooth Care Chart: Color in the sun and the moon when you brush morning and night. Brush and Floss Tracking Chart: Draw a happy face on the tooth every time you brush and floss. Colgate Brushing Chart: Dr. Rabbit challenges kids to brush their teeth twice a day for four weeks. Toothbrushing Reward Chart: Color in the toothbrush when you brush to collect rewards. 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Boustedt K, Dahlgren J, Twetman S, Roswall J. Tooth brushing habits and prevalence of early childhood caries: a prospective cohort study. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2020;21(1):155-159. doi:10.1007/s40368-019-00463-3 By Shawn Watson Shawn Watson is an orthodontic dental assistant and writer with over 10 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit