Brushing your baby’s teeth; when to start? How to brush teeth for breast, one-year-old, and 2 year old? Toothbrush technique and length. Do I need to brush my tongue? Taking care of a child, including the teeth and oral cavity, is an important moment for every parent. “Do I need to brush baby teeth?”, “When to start brushing them?”, “How to teach a child to do it on his own?” and many other questions are of interest to all mothers. In order not to wait for a consultation with a dentist, we provide answers to the main questions.
When to start brushing your baby’s teeth – valuable tips
It is known that milk teeth begin to erupt at 6–8 months and around 2, 5 years, all 20. Children’s dentists recommend starting oral hygiene from when the first teeth appear so the child gets used to it. To brush them. Although such care has a double view: on the one hand, with tooth extraction, the immunity of the oral cavity is reduced, so there is a risk of infection. Another version is that the gums around the incisor are swollen, so brushing can cause pain for the child.
Some parents believe that baby teeth do not need care and that it is worth starting to clean and only take care of molars. But after beginning milk teeth, it isn’t easy to get a 6-year-old child used to take care of them on their own. In addition, if you do not care for milk teeth, bacteria can grow in the mouth. And this results in bacterial diseases.
How to brush your baby’s teeth?
In an infant, milk teeth are just beginning to erupt. During this time, he has pain, the temperature rises, sleep is disturbed, and the child refuses to eat. You can ease your child’s pain by massaging the gums. To do this, put the baby on your knees, so the head is closer to the mother’s chest. Attach a gauze pad to your mom’s finger, soak it in boiling water, then soda solution, and gently wipe baby’s upper and lower gums (on both sides). Perform a similar cleaning of the gums and first teeth after each meal.
When you are 6 months old, you can clean the little man’s teeth not with a napkin but with a silicone brush with bristles that are placed on mom’s finger. Dentists advise them to apply foam with antibacterial, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory effects.
How do you brushing your baby’s teeth for a one-year-old baby?
From the age of one year, when there are 5-6 teeth in the oral cavity, you can teach the child to brush his teeth on his own with a brush with non-slip and stopper. It is worth remembering that the baby’s gums are still soft, and the teeth are sensitive. For this reason, choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head that reaches no more than 2 teeth. The brushes should be very soft and flexible.
Buy children’s toothpaste without fluoride that is appropriate for the child’s age. Baby pasta is tasty and harmless, and you don’t have to worry about the baby swallowing 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. Although the child has poor motor skills and cannot clean the teeth properly, parents should repeat the procedure and remove the plaque. In addition, the child should be taught to rinse the mouth after each meal.
How do brushing your baby’s teeth at 2 years old?
In the process of brushing teeth before the age of 2, the child should be familiar and understandable. If the child does not understand this procedure yet or does not want to perform it, show your example of how to do it. From the age of two, you can use toothpaste without abrasives to avoid damaging the oral cavity’s sensitive mucous membrane and tooth glass. Go for bland or milky pasta. They will not be something new and will not cause discomfort.
How long does it take for a child to brush their teeth?
Speed teeth cleaning for adults and children, including baby teeth, is done in 2-3 minutes. If the child does not tolerate this time, turn it into a game. For example, can do this with children’s songs so the child will have a pleasant view of the procedure. Also, explain that this procedure needs to be done twice a day.
Toothbrush technique
Children, like adults, should brush their teeth 2 times a day: in the morning and the evening for 2-3 minutes. It is essential 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 review.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply the brush to the teeth at a 45 ° angle and brush the chewing surfaces of the lower and upper teeth in a circular motion.
- Connect the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Brush the outside of all the teeth on the right and left sides with a strong movement from the gum to the cutting edge of the tooth.
- Open your mouth and brush the inside of your upper and lower teeth.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water several times.
Do I need to brush my tongue?
White plaque can build up on the tongue, which needs to be brushed off with a sterile bandage or the back of a toothbrush. However, almost all brushes have a rough outer surface designed for this purpose. If plaque persists, seek medical attention. It can signify the development of dryness or diseases in the digestive tract.
How do you teach a child to brush their teeth themselves?
The child begins to brush his teeth around the age of two. The first attempts to hold the brush appear in a child after one year. The best way to use a toothbrush is by example. Children tend to imitate their parents. The best place to start is by going to the bathroom together.
Another good way is to place a mirror for the child. They love to look at their reflection. It will make it easier for them to control their movements and watch how the brush works more enjoyable.
In addition, exciting games have proven themselves well. For example, brush your teeth to the tune of your favorite song, and count rhymes or poems. With older kids, turn cleaning into secret missions. Effectively pull your favorite toys to brush your teeth with. Also, run family competitions to see who brushes their teeth faster (parents have to give in and lose).
With the helpful advice from Dr. Martin.
