As they grow older, your child's "gummy smile" is replaced by baby teeth. Although these teeth are small, they play an important role in holding space for the molars. It is very important to take care of milk teeth and prevent their destruction. Otherwise, the baby will not be able to speak clearly and chew food normally. Therefore, most parents wonder when to start brushing their child's teeth in order to keep them healthy. In this article, you will not only find the answer to this question, but also learn how to properly clean and protect baby teeth.
When to start brushing milk teeth?
As soon as the first milk tooth appears. Thus, the child will get used to this process from an early age. Everything is individual, but usually the front lower tooth comes out first when the baby is six months old. In most children, all milk teeth erupt at 2-2.5 years old (read " The order of teething in a child ").
Your baby's teeth need to be looked after up to the age of seven, until he can properly take care of them himself.
How to take care of milk teeth?
|
METHODS |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Brush your teeth twice a day |
Ideally, this should be done in the morning and evening after dinner. |
|
Make light circular motions |
Use a thin layer of toothpaste that covers about 3/4 of the bristles. Use light and small circular motions and focus on the places where the teeth and gums meet. Never use excessive force when cleaning, as this may cause pain to the child. |
|
spitting |
Teach your baby to spit out the remaining paste after brushing, but do not rinse his mouth so that the paste works more effectively. |
|
Turn the child in the opposite direction from you |
The easiest way to get to all the teeth is if the child is sitting on your lap and the head is turned away from you. |
|
Let the child hold the brush |
If the baby will hold the brush, this will allow him to feel some control over the process. You can even let him brush his teeth on his own under your supervision. |
|
Brush your teeth in front of your child |
When you brush your teeth in front of your baby, you set an example and teach him about hygiene. |
|
Talk to a dentist |
If you need more information about cleaning baby teeth, ask your dentist. |
About when to start brushing your baby's teeth, you can also read the opinions of the popular pediatrician, Dr. Komarovsky:
How to protect milk teeth?
|
METHODS |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Cut down on sugar |
Sugary foods (including dried fruits) can only be eaten during the scheduled meal and a maximum of four times a day. |
|
Be careful with drinks |
Give your baby breast milk, formula, or water. Other drinks contain too much sugar. |
|
Use different ways of consuming drinks depending on age |
Try to give your baby a glass when he is six months old, and do not let him use a bottle at the age of one year. From now on, at night he should drink only water. |
|
Eat a Healthy Diet |
Give your kids a healthy and balanced diet of delicious, sugar-free foods. |
|
Check products before eating |
Always check the ingredient list of baby food products as they may contain sugar. |
|
Use Sugar-Free Medications |
Give children sugar-free products whenever possible. |
Frequently asked questions about milk teeth cleaning
After parents have learned when to start brushing their child's teeth, they have the following logical questions: how to do it right and how to brush the baby's first teeth?
How to choose a baby brush?
- Clean with gauze or muslin. Some parents find that the easiest way to brush their first teeth is to wrap a piece of gauze or muslin around their finger, add some toothpaste, and rub the child's teeth and gums.
- Soft brush. Use a soft brush with an angled head to reach all the nooks and crannies of the mouth. Age restrictions are usually indicated on the packages.
- Change your toothbrush regularly. Change your brush at least every three months, or if you notice that the bristles are already spreading out in different directions.
How to choose children's toothpaste?
- The content of fluorine compounds. It is the active ingredient in toothpaste that prevents tooth decay. But in large quantities it is dangerous. Children under 3 years of age should use a toothpaste with a low fluoride content (about 1000 ppm). Children over 3 years of age can use regular toothpastes as long as they contain no more than 1350-1500 ppm.
- A small amount of. When brushing children's teeth, you should always use the recommended amount (i.e. a small amount) of toothpaste and make sure that the child spit out the rest (if he is old enough to do so).
- Harm of large doses. If there is an excess of fluoride in the child's body, this can lead to stains on the teeth, as well as diarrhea and vomiting. If a child swallows pasta mechanically, use brands that contain no more than 550 ppm. In this case, the child does not threaten to receive a large dose of fluoride compounds, even if they are added to tap water.
The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky on what and how best to clean the first teeth of a child:
Isn't it better to give your child fluoride supplements?
Some children need fluoride supplements, but you should use them only when prescribed by a doctor and at the appropriate doses.
- If your water system uses fluoride, then you probably won't need supplements. But they can still be used.
- Check with your dentist or local water company for fluoride content in your water.
- Make sure that the child does not receive too large doses of fluoride compounds.
When can you take your child to the dentist?
Always take your child with you when you go to the dentist. So he gets used to the environment. Of course, this does not apply to those cases when you yourself are afraid of dentists. So fear can develop in a child. Methods of different dentists are different. Some may check babies as young as six months old, while others prefer to do so when the first teeth appear (read " baby's first visit to the dentist ").
