Your toddler's milk teeth are only a temporary chewing tool and are replaced during their first school years. But, despite the temporality, it is very important to take care of milk teeth from the moment they appear. To do this, you need to establish habits that lead your child to lifelong dental health.
At what age should a child start brushing their teeth?
The time when you need to start brushing your baby's teeth depends on the appearance of the first tooth. After all, decayed or lost teeth interfere with good nutrition and speech development.
It is necessary to brush your child's teeth from the moment the first tooth appears. The procedure is performed twice a day. Starting early will help your baby get used to the brushing process faster.
You can use toothbrushes. They should be very soft and have no more than three rows of bristles.
Throw away any toothbrushes that have a rough edge or are more than 2 to 4 months old because pathogenic bacteria begin to grow and multiply on these brushes.
The infant's first tooth will most likely be the lower front tooth. In most cases, it appears when the baby is about six months old. However, the time for the first tooth to erupt can vary greatly. Some newborns already have one tooth! In other children, teeth appear only in a year.
The child will eventually have 20 milk teeth. All this should happen by the time the baby is 2.5 - 3 years old.
It is best to continue brushing your child's teeth until they are at least seven years old. By this age, the child should be able to do it on their own.
Should I clean my child's gums before teething?
Even before the baby has the first tooth, it would be nice to get used to wiping the gums with gauze or a soft damp cloth while bathing. You don't need to use any toothpaste. Simply wrap a cloth or gauze around your index finger and gently rub the baby's gums.
Bacteria in the mouth usually cannot harm the gums until the teeth appear. But sometimes it can be difficult to determine when teeth are beginning to erupt, so it is advisable to start caring for the baby's oral cavity early.
Introducing the child to oral care should subsequently facilitate the transition to brushing.
Choosing the best toothpaste for your child
Nowadays, the variety of toothpastes, different brands and fragrances specially designed for children has grown significantly. The many options available can make choosing the best toothpaste for your child's dental health more difficult than expected.
Choosing the right toothpaste is a significant factor in developing good oral hygiene habits and maintaining a healthy smile in your child.
When choosing the best toothpaste for your child and their teeth consider several parameters.
Safety
Choose a toothpaste with a StAR (Dental Association of Russia) approval mark. It is important to select a toothpaste that is approved as a harmless and effective product to maintain optimal dental health.
To make sure you are buying a StAR recommended product, look for their approval seal, which should be located on the toothpaste box and tube. The StAR seal guarantees that the toothpaste has been objectively tested and approved by the StAR Science Council.
The most reliable informant for dental product recommendations is your child's dentist. As a specialist, a pediatric dentist can guide parents in choosing the best toothpaste for their baby.
Softness
Abrasive toothpastes are not the best option. Choosing a toothpaste appropriate for your child's age is very important. Some toothpastes contain harsh ingredients that erode and wear out the protective outer coating of teeth - enamel.
Abrasives are key in polishing and removing plaque, but the large amounts of phosphates and alumina found in certain toothpastes may be too high for young enamel. In fact, this will cause the baby teeth to become too sensitive.
Fluorine content
When should you start brushing your child's teeth with fluoride toothpaste? According to StAR, children of almost all ages should use a toothpaste containing fluoride, which protects teeth from cavities and plaque (anti-caries toothpastes).
Eating too much fluoride is harmful, especially for young children, so the amount of fluoridated toothpaste used needs to be controlled.
The recommended amount for children under 3 is the size of a grain of rice; for older children, the size of a pea is recommended. Children under two years of age usually cannot spit out toothpaste, so for this age it is necessary to select fluoride-free toothpastes (PRESIDENT Baby, Weleda, Splat Juicy Set, SPLAT Junior 0 to 4 years, ROCS - PRO Baby "," ROCS baby - fragrant chamomile ").
Pleasant taste
Consider the taste. While the scent may not be technically significant for dental health, choosing a toothpaste that is pleasing to the child helps the child enjoy brushing their teeth more.
Some children do not like the taste of mint toothpastes because they cause a tingling sensation in the mouth. Children tend to brush their teeth more willingly when "fun" toothpaste flavors such as strawberry or chewing gum are offered.
In fact, by allowing them to choose their own toothpaste scents, children may even be asked to brush their teeth more often.
When to start brushing your child's teeth with whitening toothpaste?
Does your child have teeth stains that you want to remove, but is it too early to start a teeth whitening treatment?
Whitening toothpastes may be beneficial, but check the recommended age for use on the packaging first. This is usually 2 years, but it all depends on the specific product.
Whitening toothpastes can be beneficial in removing surface stains, but deeper stains from drugs, trauma, or products that have deeply stained your teeth will not budge. Talk to your dentist about the causes of stains on his teeth.
If you decide to use a whitening toothpaste, choose one that contains fluoride. Check with your son or daughter's dentist before attempting any other method to whiten your child's teeth.
Check the instructions for use on the toothpaste packaging for how much of the product to use according to age.
After the child has all the permanent teeth, you can start using a mild form of whitening. For example, whitening strips.
How to properly brush your child's teeth?
Since young children do not know how to properly brush their teeth, parents must teach them.
This will be easy to achieve by doing the following important steps:
- step 1: To properly brush children's teeth, a parent or child must point a soft bristled toothbrush at a 45 ° angle to the gums of the upper and lower teeth;
- step 2: The toothbrush should be gently moved back and forth in short strokes along the teeth and gums. Likewise, continue along the inner and outer surfaces of each tooth;
- step 3: the tip of the brush should be placed in an upright position to reach the top and bottom behind the front teeth;
- step 4: To remove bacteria on the surface of the tongue, you need to clean it too.
How to brush your child's teeth at 1 year old?
You need to get used to brushing your child's teeth twice a day. Do this once in the morning, at a time that follows your usual rules. The second cleaning should be before bedtime, after feeding.
Brush in small circular motions, focusing on the area where your teeth and gums meet.
Remember that your baby's gums are very vulnerable during teething, so be very careful.
When you're done, make sure your child spits out excess toothpaste, but don't rinse your mouth with water. When some toothpaste is left on your teeth, it works better.
If your child is about two or three years old, it's time to start teaching him how to brush and care for his teeth on his own. Although learning basic oral hygiene techniques and habits begins in early childhood, it is a process that takes several years.
Preschoolers do not yet have the fine motor skills to deftly manipulate a toothbrush. Therefore, it is important to continue teaching and supervising the brushing of your child's teeth until he is 6 to 8 years old.
Your child will probably want to try himself in this business. Be sure to follow the thoroughness of the cleaning.
To stimulate your child's interest in brushing their teeth, use a fun brush with your favorite character and bright color. And let the child watch how mom and dad constantly look after their own teeth. So he learns that this habit should accompany him throughout his life.
How to teach a child to brush his teeth correctly if he does not like a toothbrush?
Unfortunately, not every child likes to brush their teeth. When your baby's teeth are teething and the gums are very sensitive and sore, the baby may resist.
If brushing your teeth is accompanied by a struggle between parent and baby, here's what to try:
- act softly... The gums of the child are sensitive even when the teeth are not erupting. So if your baby really doesn't like the brush, try a soft sponge and a gentle touch;
- sing a song... For some children, a little distraction is all it takes to make brushing comfortable. Sing your favorite tune while brushing children's teeth. The kid will come in a good mood and can reward you with a smile;
- show him how it's done... Watching mom or dad brush their teeth and enjoy the process will help turn the brushing procedure into a game: “Mom goes first… now it's your turn!”;
- let him play... Your child is likely to be curious about a toothbrush. Encourage his interest by letting him hold the brush and explore at his own pace. Perhaps he can even put the brush in his mouth himself and try to wield it.
When should my child be shown to the dentist?
It is recommended that you take your child to the dentist within six months after the first tooth appears or after the first birthday. Meanwhile, the pediatrician must examine the child's teeth (if any) at every visit to the clinic.
How else can you protect your child's teeth?
The main cause of tooth decay is sugar. Whenever your little one has something sweet in their mouth, the sugar begins to break down the mineral surface of the teeth.
Your child's teeth can recover from sugary foods, but this can take several hours. If he often eats sweets during the day, his teeth do not have time to recover.
Offer your child sugary foods and drinks only with meals, so that there is a few hours between sweets. Sweets include dried fruits, smoothies and juices.
When you give your child a snack between meals, choose tasty foods like cheese or vegetables.
To truly give your child the best chance of having healthy teeth, do following:
- Offer your baby only breast milk, formula milk, or chilled boiled water as drinks.
- Avoid fruit juices, flavored milk, and carbonated drinks. They are usually high in sugar and cause tooth decay.
- At about six months, teach your baby to drink from a glass. When he's one year old, try to wean you off using the bottle. At night, give only milk or water as a drink.
- Provide your child with a healthy, balanced diet. Encourage him to enjoy delicious foods like vegetables and cereals. Don't add sugar to food.
- If you are using cooked baby foods, make sure they are free of sugar or sweeteners. Remember that other sugars like fructose and glucose are just as bad for your baby's teeth as plain sugar.
- If a young child needs to take medication, choose sugar-free options.
When you teach your children to brush their teeth, the dental office can help. Developing the right oral hygiene habits will help children maintain healthy teeth for years to come.
