Recent studies show that more than 40% of children who go to school suffer from the problem of tooth decay. This enormous statistic shows that parents do not care about their children’s oral hygiene and baby teeth brushing.
The first way to fight tooth decay is brushing. In this article from Drhealthandbeauty, we are going to talk about Baby teeth brushing. At the end of this article, you will have a clearer view of this issue and be able to make a better decision for your child’s education. If you have children, do not miss reading this valuable article!
It is better to know that if children’s teeth fall out during childhood due to decay and lack of oral hygiene, the possibility that these children will lose their teeth prematurely in adulthood is very high.
For this reason, we should pay attention to oral hygiene and baby teeth brushing from birth. Many health experts suggest cleaning the baby’s mouth with sterile gauze once a day is better. This prevents milk from remaining on their gums, making them softer for teething babies.
Today’s health experts emphasize that children’s oral hygiene begins with teething. Considering that teething begins at one or two years old, children at this age cannot handle cleaning their mouths well.
Although baby teeth brushing is difficult for children at this age, and many people may point out that baby teeth brushing is not necessary at this age, studies show that the importance of oral hygiene for children from this time officially begins.
Parents should brush their teeth twice a day (preferably in the morning and at night before going to bed) with a soft toothbrush for children and water to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and contamination in the child’s mouth. Hold the baby in your arms and his head in your hand to do this. In this case, the child may grab the toothbrush.
Allow him to interact with the toothbrush. Never do it violently. Try to make this a pleasant task for your child with play and love. Essential tip: Never use toothpaste at this age!
From age 3, you can ask your child to brush his teeth by himself. To do this, brushing your teeth regularly in front of your child is better. Ask him to do this regularly and praise him if he does well.
Using toothbrushes with cartoon characters to encourage the child to use them is better. Never punish a child for not brushing.
Try to read stories to your children about the importance of oral hygiene and brushing children’s teeth. All these things make children learn to care about their oral health.
Never give your toothpaste to a child!
Fluoride is an essential ingredient in toothpaste that helps prevent tooth decay. All toothpaste must contain this substance. Otherwise, they cannot protect teeth from decay.
The critical point is that the fluoride in children’s toothpaste is much less than that of adults. If children use adult toothpaste, their teeth will soon be damaged and lost. Therefore, for Baby teeth brushing, you must prepare toothpaste suitable for children.
Toothpaste should be used for children over three years of age, and for children under three years of age, only a soft and moist toothbrush without toothpaste should be used. This should not be done even if the child wants adult toothpaste. Any standard toothpaste made for children can be used in a flavor compatible with the child’s taste.
A suitable toothbrush for children is a toothbrush whose fibers are soft and whose head is small, and the shape and size of the handle are suitable for the size of the child’s hand. It is better if the toothbrush has pictures or colors on the handle that encourage the child. The manufacturer divides Many types of toothbrushes for different age groups, which should be taken care of when buying. Children’s toothbrushes should usually be replaced every three months, although some children chew the head of the toothbrush, and in this situation, the toothbrush may wear out sooner.
Children should see a dentist when they reach 12 months of age or when their first tooth erupts. This allows the child to get to know the dentist. Also, this action offers the parents and the dentist an opportunity to talk about the child’s needs and plan his dental care and Baby teeth brushing.
The dentist should ask about the time of the next appointment. Dentists usually consider every 6 to 12 months an excellent time to return to check the health of the teeth. Depending on their needs, children may have the opportunity to meet with other dental health professionals. These include dental therapists, dental hygienists, and specialists such as pediatric dentists.
What mouthwash should we use for baby teeth brushing?
Most of the different mouthwashes available in the market are unsuitable for baby teeth brushing. The only mouthwash used for baby teeth brushing is fluoride, which can be used for children over six years old.
Fluoride is an element that is naturally present in many foods and drinking water. In dentistry, fluoride is available in various forms that look like gel or foam, which contain high fluoride concentrations. The topical use of fluoride in dentistry can be done at intervals of 3-6 months, depending on the discretion of the dentist and the degree of susceptibility to tooth decay, and this, in addition to preventing the decay of the healthy surfaces of the teeth, causes the “primary decay” points to harden.
You should note that a dentist must do baby teeth fluoride therapy with a particular method, and the types of fluoride listed cannot be used at home.
Also, fluoride mouthwash at home is not a substitute for fluoride therapy for Baby teeth by a dentist.
The first permanent molars grow at around six years old, have deep grooves that cannot be cleaned quickly with a toothbrush, and are places where food and decay-causing microbes accumulate. Also, the enamel of baby teeth develops up to 2 years after tooth eruption, and during this period, it is very susceptible to decay. To prevent such incidents, the grooves of Baby teeth are filled with materials called fissure sealants. These materials prevent food from accumulating on the chewing surface of the teeth. Placing fissure sealants requires no anesthesia and is entirely painless. Fissure sealants placed on teeth should be checked by a dentist every six months.
Although baby teeth brushing is an excellent way to maintain oral health, it is better to know that apart from brushing, there are some other vital points that you should pay attention to in order to protect the baby’s teeth. These points are as follows:
Avoid feeding the baby with sweet foods, especially foods containing sweetening nutrients. Sweet foods should be a maximum of four times a day.
When choosing snacks, use vegetables and cheese or other non-sweet foods.
Bottle milk generally causes tooth decay – use breast milk or formula (best formula for weight gain).
Flavored milk, fruit juices, sauces, and other drinks should be avoided.
Provide your child with a healthy and balanced diet, and avoid offering processed and packaged foods such as noodles, pasta, and chocolate.
Both adults and children must pay attention to cleaning their teeth regularly daily. Prevents gum disease. It is especially recommended that parents be persistent in this area so that their children learn to brush their teeth early and make it a regular part of their lives.
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Dr. Majid Zohrabi started treating his patients in Dubai in 2022 and continues his activities in private medical centers in the UAE.