The Best Way for Children to Brush

Our general well-being as humans relies on so many factors, and oral health is one of them. Taking good care of your mouth is a fantastic way to ensure that you stay healthy.

As parents or guardians, the oral health (and consequently, the general health) of your children largely depends on you. It would be best if you started cleaning their mouth before they began to grow teeth. And when those little teeth start to sprout, you know it is time to start teaching them proper oral hygiene.

It is never too early to begin to take care of your child’s teeth (it is never too late either). All you need to do is to start. Start by using a wet cloth to clean their mouth, then use a soft toothbrush when they have their first set of teeth. When you are confident that they can brush on their own, teach them the steps and supervise them till they can brush well by themselves. The little time you devote to this job will go a long way in saving dental costs, preserving oral and general health, and building stronger bonds between you and your children.

Significance of Brushing

Brushing your teeth regularly gives you a bright smile, makes you feel happy, and gives you confidence wherever you are. It also helps to prevent tooth decay and dental cavity.

Some parents like to think that since the baby’s teeth will fall off as the kids grow, there’s no need to take care of the child’s teeth. However, the cost of treating a cavity and the pain that comes with it is more than enough reason to invest a few minutes every morning and night to take care of your child’s teeth.

If you do not see why you should take time to brush for your child and teach them to brush correctly, here is one. The baby teeth are a forerunner for the adult teeth. If you do not take care of the baby teeth, you will have a hard time taking care of the adult teeth when it comes, and if you have unhealthy baby teeth, it will be almost impossible to have healthy adult teeth.

What is the Right Approach for Teeth Brushing?

There is more to brushing the teeth than applying toothpaste on a toothbrush and using the brush to grease the surface of your teeth. There is a process, and if you want to make it easy for your child to understand how to brush correctly, you need to teach them the process. Use these easy steps to teach your children how to brush.

• Apply small toothpaste on the toothbrush. The size of rice for children of age three and below. The size of a pea for children over the age of 3.
• Insert the toothbrush into the mouth at an angle of 45 degrees.
• Move the toothbrush back and forth to clean the interior and exterior of the upper and lower teeth. Repeat the same for the chewing upper and lower chewing surfaces.
• Hold the toothbrush horizontally and clean the front of the teeth by moving up and down.
• Apply the brush on the tongue to remove any bacteria that might be present.

To make learning a fun experience for your children, there are some tricks that you can apply. Brush with them and show them the steps. Sing while you brush. Play games. And sometimes, you can give them rewards if they are on a streak.

Which Toothbrush Should Be Used?

The ideal toothbrush for a child should be a small one with soft bristles. However, you should confirm with a pediatric dentist in Rocklin before buying a toothbrush for your child.

When you want to buy a toothbrush, make sure that it looks fun. Many children do not like to brush, but you can motivate them by purchasing a toothbrush with their favorite character on it.

Remember, it is never too early or late to start brushing your child. Brushing saves you from having to search for an emergency pediatric dentist near you because of pain from tooth decay or cavity.