Do you know how to care for your children’s teeth? Read expert advice for maintaining child dental health. Let the whole family smile!
Not all children like to brush their teeth, but if you follow the rules and procedures we recommend, you can avoid frustration and stop worrying about the dental health of your girls and boys! By following these simple tips, you can avoid extra dentist appointments.
When Do You Start?
As soon as the first teeth appear, you can begin to care for them. First, use a piece of gauze or a cotton swab to brush their teeth. Wrap gauze on your finger and moisten with boiled water, or you can purchase a special silicone fingertip toothbrush. Clean your baby’s mouth gently. Toothpaste is optional at this point. Switch to using a standard toothbrush gradually as this will help the child get used to the sensation of a toothbrush in their mouth, and they will start to form a good habit of daily brushing.
The sooner you start, the easier this habit will be absorbed. Gradually, the child will begin to ask you for a toothbrush in the morning and the evening and remind you to wash and brush your teeth. Regular cleaning of the oral cavity reduces the risk of tooth decay. If your child refuses to brush his teeth, try turning the process into a fun game! For example, tell your child that the brush is an airplane that needs to sit in its mouth – the airfield.
Use the Right Appliances
I recommend products designed specifically for children. There are special children’s toothpaste and toothbrushes, both manual and electric. Oral-B has a beautiful line of products called Stages, which will provide you with everything you need to fight tooth decay in children.
Children under six years old should use a toothpaste containing fluoride at a level of 500 ppm. After six years, you can switch to a toothpaste with 1450 ppm, then from 12 years onward you should choose toothpaste with tin fluoride. From 3 years old, it is advisable to replace the manual brush with an electric one with reciprocating technology. Such brushes remove two times more plaque and take care of the gums more effectively.
Choosing the Right Brush
What should I look for when choosing a toothbrush? Several critical parameters are described below.
Decor
Choose a bright brush. You can easily find one that will appeal to the child. The brush should not be overloaded with decorative elements: this may make it inconvenient to use.
Children’s Brush Must Be Age-appropriate
Depending on this parameter, a specific size is selected. As the baby grows older, the brush needs to be changed. Younger children can use a toothbrush with bristles similar to those belonging to an adult, but the head should be small, and the handle long and comfortable. Remember that from 5–7 years old, children’s teeth change. During this period, it is better to buy a brush on which there are bristles with different lengths.
A Pen
The brush handle is usually decorated with elements that attract the attention of the baby (cartoon characters and fairy tales). Give preference to models with a base of non-slip material.
Brush Head
Estimate the size and shape of the brush head. If it is too large and uncomfortable, the child will be uncomfortable brushing his teeth, and he will be reluctant to master this new habit. An oversized head will not allow you to clean the teeth in the bend of the jaw. The optimal size of the head is the same as 2-3 teeth of the child. This makes it easier to avoid gum damage.
Bristle Type
Toothbrushes provide proper toothbrushing for children with bristles up to 11 millimeters high. Before the age of tooth changes, buy models with even bristles so that the pressure on the entire jaw is uniform. Choose models with soft bristles or medium-hard bristles: if it is too stiff, the bristles can damage the baby’s gums. Prefer synthetic bristles. Natural hairs consist of a heterogeneous structure and contain channels in which bacteria accumulate. Such bristles break quickly, the cleaning surface becomes prickly and can damage children’s gums.
Choose the Right Size
Make sure the size of the toothbrush fits the baby’s small mouth. It is essential to use a brush designed for a specific age. If the brush head is large, then the child will not be able to get his back teeth, which means that the plaque on them will remain and will accumulate. Do not save on toothbrushes. Their quality directly affects the health of your child. Electric toothbrushes are considered more effective. I recommend giving preference to the round shape of the nozzle for electric toothbrushes.
Think Small
The amount of toothpaste with fluoride to strengthen the teeth should be about the size of a pea. Encourage your child to brush his teeth in a circular motion. Make sure that each tooth is cleaned. The amount of paste does not affect the quality of brushing – the movements that the child makes during brushing play a more critical role. Do not worry if the baby swallows baby toothpaste. It is harmless and tasty. Milk teeth can be brushed for 2-3 minutes. If your child can’t stand it for so long, try to turn it into a game like mentioned above. Simple persuasion may not help.
Help Your Kids
By helping your child brush his teeth, you can make sure that he is doing everything right. When an adult shows the correct cleaning technique, the child tries harder and forms better habits. Brush your teeth with your child, demonstrating the right movements with your example. There are individual mobile applications (for example, Magic Timer from Oral-B and Disney) that teach children the correct cleaning technique. Download them, and it can simplify and facilitate something that, otherwise, may not be pleasant.
Important Tip
To care for a child’s teeth, I recommend using coloring tablets to show the children the areas they missed when brushing. Pink or purple color indicates where the coating remained, and darker indicates regions cleaned for a long time. Such tablets help determine the most problematic areas in the oral cavity, and high-quality cleaning of these places will reduce the risk of tooth decay. Most people use these pills before cleaning, but I recommend using them after it. This tip is also suitable for adults.
Here at Oakvillage Dental, we treat you like we would treat our own family. We strive to make your dental experience comfortable and stress-free. Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.