It is necessary to take care of your child’s teeth when they are young. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences of not brushing in the later stage of their life.
Your children can indulge in junk food, especially when they are out with friends. So extra supervision from the parents is a must. But first, it is essential to understand how to maintain good oral hygiene so that you will know your kid is doing it all right.
How to choose your toothbrush?
● Many of you think that hard-bristled toothbrushes clean better. Is this true? Soft bristle toothbrushes are recommended widely. Hard bristled brushes, coupled with the force you brush, may erode the tooth over time.
● It is better to choose a toothbrush with a small head. A brush with a large head may make it difficult to clean the areas that are hard to access, like the teeth at the back.
● Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or earlier if the bristles fray.
How to brush your teeth?
- Use a soft bristle toothbrush with pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste.
- Bite your teeth edge to edge.
- Angle the brush to your gum line at 45, with bristles half on the gums and half on the teeth.
- Brush downwards in short circular movements or short back-and-forth motions.
- Avoid brushing too hard. Brushing hard can wear away the enamel.
- Brush all three sides:
● The outer side
● The inner side
● The chewing side. - While brushing the chewing side, apply a little pressure to ensure your bristles clean the fissures and the grooves of the tooth well.
- Brush all the teeth.
- Brush at least for 2 minutes.
- Brush twice every day to prevent plaque from hardening.
How long to brush?
● According to ADA, one should brush their teeth for a minimum of 2 minutes.
● You can set a timer for two minutes. Then the kids will know how long to brush.
● In order to brush all teeth in the upper and lower arches, it is essential to brush for at least 2 minutes.
How much toothpaste is enough?
● Most of the ad shows us covering the whole brush with toothpaste. You do not need that much.
● The size of a pea is what ADA(American Dental Academy) recommends.
● Also, more than the amount of toothpaste, it is ‘how you brush’ that makes all the difference.
How many times to brush a day?
● Dentists worldwide recommend brushing teeth at least two times a day:
- Morning once you wake up to beat the morning breath.
- And at night, before bed, to clean all the food debris from your mouth.
● In addition, it is also important to include flossing and tongue cleaning in your oral hygiene routine.
Conclusion
It can be a tedious task to make children brush their teeth. They may find two minutes of brushing to be forever. Don’t be hopeless when they do not oblige. Rewarding them with what they wish for the most may help to get the job done.
Modern advancements like battery-powered toothbrushes can fascinate children and motivate them to brush or buy them toothbrushes of their favorite superheroes. Make them understand the consequence of not brushing. Show them pictures or videos if that works.
Understand that the children may not brush their teeth if they have teeth erupting. It can be tender and hurt them when brushing. Make sure to get the bi-annual dental checkup done.
It is essential to be a good role model as a parent. Forcing them to brush when they do not see you do the same will set a bad example.