Establishing good oral hygiene habits while your children are young will help them avoid serious dental problems as they grow older. Brushing is a critical component in any oral hygiene routine. Unfortunately, children are not the best at brushing their own teeth. They haven't mastered the brush stroke and pressure required to achieve proper cleaning.

An electric toothbrush can help improve your child's oral hygiene by doing most of the brushing for him or her. Help your child get used to an electric toothbrush so that they can use this tool to care for their teeth over time.

1. Let your child play with the toothbrush.

For a child who has never been exposed to an electric toothbrush, the noise and vibrations produced by these dental tools can be intimidating. If your child is frightened of the toothbrush, then he or she will not want to use it to clean their teeth each day.

You can get your child comfortable with an electric toothbrush by allowing him or her to play with the toothbrush prior to use. Let your child practice turning the toothbrush on and off. Allow your child to feel how the toothbrush vibrates by letting him or her put a dry brush head into his or her mouth.

When your child seems comfortable with the electric toothbrush, put a new head on the brush and incorporate it into your child's hygiene routine.

2. Set an example for proper use.

Young children learn many new skills by mimicking the actions they see adults performing. This means that you can set an example for your child by using an electric toothbrush yourself. Let your child see you brushing, and make the experience a positive one by smiling or dancing as you brush.

Show your child the proper way to use the electric toothbrush. Brush your own teeth alongside your child, both using electric toothbrushes, and your child will become more comfortable with the electric toothbrush over time.

3. Monitor your child's breathing.

A small child's airway tends to be more sensitive than an adult's to help prevent choking. This means that your child's gag reflex may be very strong. Some children breathe through their mouths rather than their noses, which can make brushing uncomfortable.

If your child has a strong gag reflex or is a mouth breather, help him or her learn to brush in small bursts. Rather than brushing all the teeth at once, have your child use the electric toothbrush to clean a section of teeth before resting. Taking breaks will help make brushing easier, and the electric toothbrush will get teeth cleaner in a shorter amount of time.

Go to this website for more information about pediatric dental hygiene.