Oral hygiene is the key to general human health. That is why it is important to start taking care of the baby’s teeth from the moment they erupt, or even earlier. This is necessary in order to prevent the formation of infections in the oral cavity and related diseases associated with improper dental care.
Essential assistants in the process of cleaning the oral cavity are toothbrushes for children. But how to choose them for crumbs, what to look for when buying such a hygiene product? We will answer these and other questions in our article.
When to start brushing your teeth?
There is a misconception that due to the inconstancy of milk teeth, taking care of their health is not too important, because they will fall out anyway soon. In fact, this is completely untrue. Milk teeth damaged by infection can lead to the spread of the disease to the molars, and also contribute to the curvature of permanent teeth. In addition, the risk of developing diseases such as caries, stomatitis and pulpitis is increased. Such health problems are often very painful for a child and negatively affect the laying of molars. Diction also suffers from diseased teeth, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Given the above factors, it can be concluded that oral hygiene is necessary literally from the birth of the baby, and the first toothbrush for the child should be acquired no later than the first tooth erupted.
Bristle material
When choosing toothbrushes for children, it is important to pay attention to the appearance of the bristles. Those parents who prefer everything natural will have to be upset, because such bristles are difficult to clean from bacteria. This means that the natural material in the toothbrush not only does not cope with the task, but can also do harm by spreading the pathogenic flora.
Therefore, bristles made of artificial materials are the best choice. But here it is also important to pay attention to stiffness, because coarse bristles can damage thin enamel and even gums. It should be moderately soft, in three or four rows. Such a toothbrush is suitable for children of different ages, with the exception of babies. The first toothbrushes for children are made of soft and safe silicone. They are described in more detail below.
Head diameter
When choosing the size of the head of the toothbrush should be guided by this rule: the smaller the child, the smaller the diameter of the head. Only under this condition does it become possible to clean the teeth from all sides. The most optimal indicator is 10-12 mm.
If we talk about the shape of the head, then they are round, rectangular, triangular. It is better to choose a round shape of the brush head - it is the safest for the child. It is especially important to take this factor into account when acquiring a toothbrush for children up to a year old - a shape with edges can damage the delicate gingival mucosa.
A pen
The kid still does not know how to hold the toothbrush firmly and correctly. But any incorrect movement can lead to trauma to the oral cavity. Therefore, it is important when choosing a toothbrush to pay attention to its handle. It should be moderately wide so that the child can confidently, without making special physical efforts, comfortably hold the product.
It is important that the handle is rubberized or has special silicone inserts. Such simple devices will help the baby not to miss the brush from his hands. Similar recommendations apply if an electric toothbrush for children is selected.
Design
In order for the child to brush his teeth with pleasure, you should choose a brush with a bright original design that matches the age of the baby. This is not difficult to do, as the market offers a wide range of a wide variety of models. They are decorated with drawings of cartoon characters, made in the form of figures, with built-in light and even music. You can offer the baby to choose a toothbrush on their own, but at the same time, parents should not forget about the necessary important characteristics of the device.
Ordinary or electric?
An electric toothbrush for children is gaining in popularity. Parents believe that with the help of such a device, the baby's teeth are cleaned better. But are they really comfortable, practical, and safe for the baby? In fact, if the choice is between an electric and an ordinary toothbrush, then for children it is better to choose the latter. An automated device often leads to minor injuries of the oral cavity and damage to the thin enamel of children's teeth. In addition, given the rather high cost of electric brushes, parents buy them for their babies, as they say, “for years,” which can’t be done! Since for the purpose of hygiene it is recommended to change a children's toothbrush at least once every 3-4 months.
Ionic toothbrush: what is the feature?
The Japanese development is an ionic toothbrush. This is a completely unique device for brushing your teeth. The principle of action is the pole discharging. The fact is that scientists have established why there is plaque on the teeth. It appears due to the fact that microbes have a positive charge, and the tooth enamel is negative. And, as you know from the school physics program, uncharged particles are attracted.
The ion brush is designed so that its bristles have a negative charge. Thus, in contact with the surface of the tooth, microbes are attracted to the brush.
This type of toothbrush is increasingly in demand among parents of children under one year old. Since you can use the product without toothpaste (which is important for babies who have not yet learned to rinse their mouth). This type of toothbrush does not require mechanical hard friction, which means it is safe for crumbs.
Ionic Toothbrush: User Reviews
Customer reviews about such a novelty for oral hygiene are diverse. Some consider the tool effective and safe, while others are inclined to believe that such a brush does not cope with high-quality cleansing of the teeth, and also worry about the negative effect of magnetism on the child's body. In some cases, such a novelty is purchased for newborns, in others it is used as a toothbrush for a child of 7 years and older - it is suitable for children of all ages.
First toothbrush
Special attention is required to choose the first toothbrush. Especially for the smallest are developed products, popularly called "fingertips." They are made of silicone. You can use them even before the teething of the first tooth in order to massage the gums and cleanse the oral cavity. To do this, mother needs to put a brush on her index finger and massage the gum crumbs with careful movements.
For 1 year old babies
Children who have already erupted several teeth can be encouraged to learn how to clean them yourself using a silicone brush with a limiter. Such a toothbrush is most safe for children from 1 year, since the bristle material is soft, it is difficult for them to damage the gums or enamel, and the protective ring prevents the product from penetrating deep into the oral cavity.
Silicone Toothbrush Reviews
Both fingertips and silicone brushes for older children are becoming increasingly popular with parents. Reviews indicate the high safety of the use of such devices, even when used independently by their children. In addition, they can be used in the form of “teethers” in order to reduce pain, itching and swelling when the first teeth appear.
But silicone toothbrushes are not suitable for children from 3 years old, since due to anatomical changes, older kids need a hygienic assistant with soft bristles to effectively clean their oral cavity.
In addition, silicone toothbrushes need careful care, since clusters of pathogenic microflora can form between the villi. After each brushing, such a brush must be boiled.
How often to change?
In order for the baby's teeth to be healthy, you need to take care not only about the right choice of a toothbrush, but also about caring for it, as well as about storage:
- a toothbrush needs to be changed every 3-4 months;
- after each use, the product should be thoroughly washed and dried;
- store upright with the bristle head up;
- when stored in a case, it is important to regularly monitor its cleanliness and not to put it on other brushes.
Where can I buy?
To buy toothbrushes for children is preferably in pharmacies. In stores, you can often come across a fake or low-quality product. It is also worth noting that one should not save excessively - the subsequent treatment of teeth destroyed by a disease will cost much more. But there is no point in overpaying either - the child may become excessively attached to the toothbrush he likes and will not want to part with it when the time comes to change it for a new one.
Choose high-quality, hygienic, comfortable toothbrushes for children. And then the teeth of your kids will respond with health and beauty.