Contents
- When to brush your baby’s teeth?
- And the first toothbrush?
- In video: teach him to brush his teeth on his own
- At what age can our child brush his teeth alone?
- From what age to use baby toothpaste?
- How to properly brush your child’s teeth? Frequency, quantity, duration
- Teeth brushing: teaching your child the gestures adapted to his age
When to brush your baby’s teeth?
Teething start on average around the age of 6 months. Your baby’s gums will then begin to show small white tips: these are baby teeth. As soon as the first tooth arrives, it is cleaned regularly. Indeed, cavities can already set in, better known under the name of bottle cavities, generally very painful.
At this age, however, there is no question of brushing or toothpaste, which will only be used from about eighteen months. In addition to following certain rules (such as not leaving your child forever a bottle filled with sweetened liquid for example), we parents can clean our baby’s teeth daily using a compress soaked in water, rubbing them gently.
And the first toothbrush?
The first toothbrushes, sold in supermarkets and pharmacies, are generally indicated for 2-6 year olds. However, they can be used from 1 year, provided of course that brushing is done only under the strict supervision of an adult. Some brushes are suitable for toddlers: the head is small, in relation to the mouth, the handle, conversely, is large, to facilitate its grip. As for the hairs, they must be flexible. Thus, they can sneak into every corner, without attacking the gum tissue. Remember to renew your toothbrush every season (every three months).
In video: teach him to brush his teeth on his own
At what age can our child brush his teeth alone?
A child can start brushing their teeth with a suitable brush from the first baby tooth. He can do it himself or with the help of one of the parents as long as his manual dexterity does not allow him. At this age, children love imitate their parents. To make him want to brush his teeth, the best solution is to lead by example.
From what age to use baby toothpaste?
Before 18 months, brushing is done with water only. Better not include toothpaste as long as the child does not control his swallowing, hence rinsing. Just like the first toothbrushes, the first toothpastes can be bought in supermarkets and pharmacies. To ensure that children have the just intake of fluoride – neither too much nor too little – it is necessary to choose the toothpaste that suits your age group. For example, up to 2 years, the dose of fluoride in the tube should be between 500 and 1000 ppm. Between 2 and 6 years, the fluoride concentration is between 1000 and 1450 ppm.
How to properly brush your child’s teeth? Frequency, quantity, duration
Up to 3 years old, the child can be satisfied with two daily brushings. Let’s avoid “skipping” brushing at night, since it is at night, when saliva production decreases, that bacteria take advantage of this to spread and attack the teeth. Moreover, if our child is undergoing homeopathic treatment, it must be taken before brushing, because homeopathic granules are above all sugar granules.
As for the amount of toothpaste, it is not necessary to overdo it. The correct dose is compared to the size of a pea: it is in fact a toothbrush width, and not a length, as is often believed (and as seen in advertisements!).
The duration of brushing adapts to the child, the important thing being that at 3 years old, it lasts about 2 minutes.
Teeth brushing: teaching your child the gestures adapted to his age
In children, brushing is closely linked to their dexterity. You don’t need to want him to brush his teeth the same way you do, he can’t. It is therefore necessary to teach him movements which are adapted to him.. As his teeth are small, it is not yet necessary for him to brush the external or internal surfaces. By brushing only the chewing surfaces, the bristles of the brush indeed reach the rest of the tooth. Show her how to brush her teeth by rocking back and forth over those chewing surfaces..
To clean properly, it is necessary to do about ten back and forth. Little tip: give it a number of movements, such as 10, allows him to find his way more efficiently than over time (1 minute for example). To help him, set up a path together in the child’s mouth, so as not to forget the surface. For example, you can start it from the top, from left to right, then do the same at the bottom!