So your little one graduated from giving you sweet gummy smiles to breaking into mischievous-looking smiles that put fresh budding teeth on display. It’s time to think about what toothbrushes you would use to take care of those precious teeth until he or she can fully handle the mechanics of brushing, flossing, gargling and all other activities that go with an active oral hygiene routine.
Taking a trip to the pharmacy or supermarket to purchase the perfect toothbrush can be overwhelming. With so many types and brands of toothbrushes to select from, it is important to know what makes a toothbrush just right for your child. Dental care experts share the following
Size Matters
Finding the correct sized brush is the best place to start. Just like any standard brush, it is important that the toothbrush you select is the right size and style for your child. The head of the toothbrush should be suitable for a child’s easy use so that it fits in his or her mouth properly and is able to comfortably get all the way to the back teeth. Select toothbrushes with soft bristles for younger children and toddlers, which gently work on cleaning the teeth even when your child is cutting new teeth.
For an infant with less teeth than can be counted on one hand, a finger brush is the ideal option. Finger brushes offer parents and child caregivers a necessary solution for providing oral care to children who are still too young to spit out their toothpaste. With these brushes, a little water or an infant toothpaste can be used to achieve great results. Remember to check and ensure that the toothpaste contains no fluoride.
Finger brushes are super soft and work beautiful with young children. By the time they begin to bite your finger during brushing sessions, getting a new and improved toddler-sized toothbrush is in order. Simply examine the packaging while shopping for the toothbrush for specifications on what size would be suitable for your child’s age. Things to look out for include: how well it fits the mouth, how comfortable it is to hold, and how much your child loves it.
Should You Use an Electric Toothbrush for Your Child?
An electric toothbrush holds many benefits for children and adults alike. However, electric toothbrushes are unsuitable for babies and very small toddlers, i.e. children aged three years and younger. Dental authorities believe that the effects of plaque and gum diseases can be successfully combatted by using both manual and electric toothbrushes. If you have any concerns about using electric toothbrushes for your child, discuss your fears on the issue with your child’s dentist.
Electric toothbrushes help children who have lower manual dexterity than adults, to clean hard to reach places in the mouth, such as the backs of the teeth. Children who for certain reasons have difficulty using a manual brush can find that electric brushes are comfortable and easier to use. In addition, children who are reluctant brushers or easily bored with brushing their teeth can become more interested in brushing when they use an electric toothbrush.
Some electric brushes come with built-in timers to make sure that children brush for the recommended two minutes. Musical tones are also included to increase the fun of brushing the teeth and encourage them to make a habit of cleaning their teeth two times daily.
No matter the kind of toothbrush being used, manual or electric, children should be assisted with brushing until the age of seven, and supervised afterwards to create good brushing habits, brushing techniques, and ensure a complete clean.
Pick an Interesting-looking Toothbrush
Sure, babies love colours. Take advantage of this when looking for the perfect toothbrush for your little one. Children’s toothbrushes come in an array of different colours to choose from. Or better yet, let them do the choosing. When you are buying toothbrushes you toddlers, it is recommended to buy more than one. Having two or three toothbrushes on the bathroom counter means they can “choose” which toothbrush they want to use on a particular day and enjoy having options. Also, when a toothbrush falls to the floor mid-brushing, and trust us this has happened more times than we care to count, you can simply pick up another one to resume brushing while you set the fallen one aside for later sterilising.
To sum up, the right toothbrush for your child is the one that is of perfect size, has soft bristles and looks interesting. Also, don’t be afraid to use an electric toothbrush if your child is of the appropriate age and needs one.
