When to start brushing your child's teeth? How to brush teeth for babies, 1 year olds and 2 years old? Teeth brushing technique and duration. Do I need to brush my tongue? Video clips of Dr. Komarovsky. Caring for a child, including caring for teeth and oral cavity, is a crucial moment for every parent. "Do I need to brush milk teeth?", "When to start brushing them?", "How to teach a child to do it on their own?" and many other questions are of interest to all mothers. In order not to wait for the dentist's consultation, we give answers to the main questions.
When to start brushing your child's teeth - tips and tricks
It is known that milk teeth begin to erupt at the age of 6–8 months, and by the age of 2, 5 years, all 20. Children's dentists recommend starting oral hygiene from the moment the first teeth appear, so that the child gets used to brushing them. Although, such care has a double opinion: on the one hand, with teething, the immunity of the oral cavity decreases, so there is a risk of acquiring an infection. Another version is that the gums around the cutting tooth are inflamed, so brushing may cause pain to the child.
Some parents believe that milk teeth do not require care, and that it is worth starting to clean and care only for molars. But having launched milk teeth, it is difficult to accustom a 6-year-old child to self-care for them. In addition, if you do not take care of milk teeth, bacteria can grow in the mouth. And this entails bacterial diseases.
How to brush your baby's teeth?
In an infant, milk teeth are just beginning to erupt. At this time, he has pain, the temperature rises, sleep is disturbed and the baby refuses to eat. You can relieve the child's torment by massaging the gums. To do this, place the baby on your knees so that its head is closer to the mother's chest. Tie a gauze swab on your mom's finger, moisten it in boiling water, then in a soda solution and gently wipe the baby's upper and lower gums (on both sides). Perform a similar cleaning of the gums and the first teeth after each meal.
By the age of 6 months, you can clean the little man's teeth not with a napkin, but with silicone brushes with villi that are put on mom's finger. Dentists advise them to apply a foam with a bactericidal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
How to brush teeth for a one-year-old child?
From a year old, when there are 5–6 teeth in the oral cavity, you can teach your baby to brush his teeth on his own with a brush with a non-slip handle and a stopper. It is worth remembering that the baby's gums are still soft and the teeth are fragile. For this reason, choose toothbrushes with soft bristles and a small head covering no more than 2 teeth. The bristles should be very soft and flexible.
Buy baby toothpaste without fluoride that is suitable for the age of the child. Children's pasta is tasty and harmless and you don't have to worry that the child will swallow it. At the same time, it is worth making sure that this does not become a habit.
Brushing your teeth should be done twice a day. While the child has weak motor skills and he cannot clean his teeth properly, parents must repeat the procedure and remove plaque. In addition, the child should be taught to rinse the mouth after each meal.
How to brush teeth for a child at 2 years old?
The process of brushing teeth by the age of 2 years, the child should be familiar and understandable. If the child does not yet understand this procedure or he does not want to carry out it, then show by your own example how to do it. From the age of two, you can use a toothpaste without abrasive substances so as not to damage the delicate mucous membrane of the oral cavity and tooth enamel. Go for tasteless or milky pastas. They will not become something new and will not cause discomfort.
How long does it take for a child to brush their teeth?
The rate of teeth cleaning for adults and children, incl. milk teeth, carried out for 2-3 minutes. If the child cannot stand this time, then turn it into a game. For example, this can be done with children's songs, so the child will have a pleasant impression of the procedure. Also explain that this procedure needs to be done twice a day.
Teeth brushing technique
Children, like adults, should brush their teeth 2 times a day: in the morning and in the evening for 2-3 minutes. It is important not only to follow the procedure, but also to brush your teeth correctly. The technique of brushing children's teeth is no different from that of adults, but it will not be superfluous to recall it.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply the brush to the teeth at an angle of 45 ° and in a circular motion brush the chewing surfaces of the lower and upper teeth.
- Connect the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Brush the outside of all teeth on the right and left sides with a sweeping motion from the gum to the incisal edge of the tooth.
- Open your mouth and brush the inside of your upper and lower jaw teeth.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water several times.
Do I need to brush my tongue?
White plaque may accumulate on the tongue, which must be brushed off with a sterile bandage or the back of a toothbrush. Almost all brushes on the other hand have a rough outer surface designed for this purpose. If plaque persists, seek medical advice. This may be a sign of developing thrush or gastrointestinal tract disease.
How to teach a child to brush their teeth on their own?
The child begins to brush his teeth on his own by the age of two. The first attempts to hold the brush appear in a child by the age of one. The best way to use a toothbrush is by example. Children tend to imitate their parents. Therefore, the best place to start is by going to the bathroom together.
Another good way is to put a mirror in front of the baby. They love to look at their reflection. This will make it easier for them to control their movements and more interesting to watch how the brush works.
In addition, interesting games have proven themselves well. For example, brush your teeth to the beat of your favorite song, counting rhyme, or poem. With older kids, turn cleaning into a secret mission. Effectively attract your favorite toys, with which you can go to brush your teeth. Also hold family competitions to see who brushes your teeth faster (parents need to give in and lose).
At the end of the article, we suggest watching interesting and informative videos with useful advice from Dr. Komarovsky.
How to start brushing your child's teeth?
At what age should a child brush their teeth?
What is the best way to brush your child's teeth?
