Between Ages 6 and 12

It's time to pass on the torch!

Until now you've been brushing and caring for your child's teeth, it's time to ensure that they've been paying attention. You should still supervise their brushings, but let them take charge of two of the daily brushings. It is a good idea if you perform or at least supervise one daily brushing particularly before bedtime until around the age of seven.

At around six years of age, you should add flossing into your child's oral hygiene regimen. There fine motor skill should be at the necessary level and they should be able to pick up this new skill fairly quickly. It will likely still be your responsibility to ensure it is done properly until the age of eight or nine.

You've probably been told about sealants by the time they reach this age. A fissure sealant is a dental product we use to fill fissures (deep crevasse especially in the back and hard to reach teeth). Sealants are a plastic coating that allows us to prevent tooth decay from occurring on your child's chewing surfaces. We will suggest sealants if we feel that they will benefit your child.