At what age do children brush their teeth and how?

Parents should pay due attention to personal hygiene of the baby, including this applies to oral care. That is why the question of the age at which children are cleaned by the teeth should occur in moms and dads long before they begin to erupt. And do not think that the milk teeth do not need cleaning, because sooner or later they will still change. In fact, the health of molars largely depends on how correctly the oral care was organized in early childhood.

When to start brushing your child's teeth

Some parents are of the opinion that cleaning your baby's teeth is not necessary. In fact, they need to be cleaned and treated as thoroughly as they are permanent, because insufficient and untimely care can lead to the formation of caries, and in especially difficult cases - to pulpitis and periodontitis. Subsequently, all this negatively affects the formation of permanent teeth.

So at what age do children brush their teeth? It should begin as soon as possible, literally with the cutting of the first incisor. But the timing of the appearance of milk teeth vary from 4 to 10 months. After a year, tusks begin to erupt, and by the age of two the baby already has a full set of teeth - as many as 20 pieces.

Basics of hygiene, or oral care before teething

Many dentists recommend starting the care of the oral cavity of the child even before the first milk teeth begin to erupt. This is a good prevention of candidiasis, or thrush, and also will minimize the inflammatory process, when the teeth will begin to erupt. So at what age do children brush their teeth?

Not teeth, but gums to children begin to be cleaned at about three months, that is, a couple of months before the beginning of their eruption. To do this, use a gauze swab. To clean the mouth, it is moistened in boiled water and immediately after a meal they rub the inner surface of the cheeks, gums and tongue. And about once a week for the prevention of candidiasis and dental diseases gauze tampon is recommended to wet in a weak soda solution.

Cleaning of the first teeth

The very first adaptations that parents use to clean newly cut teeth are silicone pads on the fingers. They are designed for massaging gums during eruption and for cleaning teeth before the introduction of the first complementary foods. Then another question arises: from what age can a child brush his teeth with a toothbrush?

As soon as the baby begins to get acquainted with the adult food, the first plaque is formed on the enamel, which is the food for caries and, therefore, needs cleaning. That's when you can buy a baby a brush. However, the brush can be with silicone bristles and also be worn on the finger. But paste is not recommended. For a one-year-old baby, it is enough to moisten the brush in boiled water and walk it over the surface of the teeth.

How to brush your teeth in 2 years

When the child is fully introduced lure and he begins to gradually move to the main table, boiled water, which parents moisten the toothbrush, will stop coping with so much plaque and leftover food. Here the question of the age at which to start brushing a child's teeth should no longer stand in front of the parents. In two years is the deadline. And urgently and immediately. Otherwise, the remains of food, which are stuck between densely standing in the row teeth (and to this age in the dentition they will be 20), will become food for caries.

That is why in 2 years the teeth need to be cleaned with a special brush with toothpaste. And if a child from childhood was accustomed to clean the gums, and then teeth twice a day, then for him a new duty will not be a big problem and he will do it with pleasure only.

At what age do I brush my teeth with a toothpaste?

So, the child is 2 years old, and the task of the parents at this moment is to introduce him to the toothpaste and teach how to use the brush correctly. But if the answer to the question, from what age children brush their teeth, does not arise, then another controversial moment follows. What kind of pasta to buy a child - with or without fluoride? Can I use the paste for adults?

To clean teeth for a two-year-old child is allowed only by specialized children's paste. Compared with the adult, it contains less abrasive substances, has flavor and aroma additives. In addition, children's pastes are supplemented with enzymes, casein, xylitol and calcium, which improve the structure of the tooth and have a bactericidal effect. For children up to 3 years of age, they produce paste that does not contain fluoride. Their child can even swallow without harm to their health.

Equipment

The technique of proper teeth cleaning in children is as follows:

1. The procedure for cleaning teeth in children is similar to adults. The brush is applied to the base of the teeth and swept upwards with sweeping movements. That is, the cleaning occurs from the gums to the edges.
2. Similar actions are repeated from the inside and outside, to the right and to the left. In this way "sweeping out" it is necessary to clean all the teeth. In this case, the pressure on the enamel should be minimal. It is important not to damage during cleaning neither teeth nor gums.
3. Chewing teeth should be cleaned in circular motions from the top.
4. In the process of cleaning, do not forget about the language. It is cleaned with the back of the toothbrush, which is exactly what it is intended for.
5. To speed up the process, electric brushes can be used. At what age should the child brush his teeth with such a device? Approximately from three years, before this age even to try it is not necessary.

In the process of cleaning teeth is recommended to use the elements of the game, such as an hourglass. The child should know that as soon as the sand is poured, the cleaning will end.

Choosing a toothbrush

Another important point concerns the choice of a toothbrush. The fact is that the brushes with which adults brush teeth are not suitable for babies. The choice of this tool for children has special requirements:

1. Do not buy brushes for your child with natural bristles. The fact is that dangerous microorganisms and bacteria are accumulating in it, which simply can not be removed by a stream of water. In addition, natural bristles are stiff and can damage the baby's tender gums.
2. Brush for cleaning teeth should be chosen according to the age of the baby. If he is not yet two years old, you can use the finger pads to care for the enamel and the tongue, which also copes well with the plaque.
3. The size of the toothbrush head should be round in shape and small in size. This will reduce the level of injuries during cleaning enamel.

Many dentists recommend for the cleaning of teeth to buy electric brushes that run on batteries. Their advantage is that the coating from the enamel and the tongue is removed qualitatively and quickly. The only drawback is that not all children perceive such brushes adequately. For some, vibration causes fear, and they categorically refuse to clean.

From what age do you brush your teeth: Komarovsky EO and his recommendations

Famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky gives his recommendations for cleaning his teeth. He advises starting this process as early as possible, beginning with the first tooth, and recommends using silicone pads for this. But parents should not forget that all this should take place in the form of a game, that is, the child himself should like the process. This will in the future develop a positive reaction to the duty to clean the teeth.

Also, parents should not forget, from what age you need to brush your teeth to your child. Maximum of 2 years, they should introduce him to the brush and paste. At the same time, if the child categorically refuses to perform such a duty, it should not be forced. If necessary, you can wait and up to three years. The main thing is not to force brushing your teeth. It is better to use in education such methods, in which the child will have a desire to brush his teeth on his own, without pressure from the parents.

Important recommendations for cleaning your teeth

The pledge of a beautiful smile of an adult depends to a large extent on how well the care of the oral cavity was properly organized at an early age. Many parents avoid mistakes in the future will help the following recommendations:

1. To teach a child to care for the oral cavity should begin as early as possible, namely at three months of age. Then there will be no unnecessary questions as to the age at which the child should be taught to brush his teeth. Everything will be gradual, just first the role of the brush will be performed by a gauze swab and a silicone pad on the finger, and then - a toothbrush with paste.
2. Pasta should be selected for quality, with a short shelf life and without fluoride in the composition.
3. Preventative dental examinations should be conducted twice a year. This will allow timely detection of diseases and timely treatment of teeth, which subsequently positively affects the health of the entire oral cavity.