There is no need to tell you how important oral hygiene is, not only for adults but also for children. Unfortunately, some people still believe that milk teeth can be "neglected" as they are destined to fall out.
There is nothing more wrong! Deciduous teeth are of paramount importance to the future oral health of the child. Even if they are destined to fall, they contribute to forming the entire mouth, and their position will determine the position of the final teeth.
A decayed milk tooth or pediatric orthodontic problems can lead to problems in the definitive teeth, because premature voids in the mouth cause the neighboring teeth to take up more space than they should. This can lead to problems of overcrowding, malocclusion, and consequently also caries in the final teeth, which often form in the most difficult to clean areas due to the position of the teeth.
For this reason, teaching children to brush their teeth is a task that every parent must take seriously: it is a commitment to be carried out every day, every day, until the child has reached complete autonomy.
When do children start brushing their teeth?
I am asked this question very often when parents come to our dental office.
We've already talked about this in our blog post about teething, but let's do a refresher.
As soon as the first tooth appears, it is already possible to start cleaning it with a wet gauze. However, it is only possible to start using toothbrush and toothpaste from 3 years of age.
Obviously both must be made to measure: the toothbrush will have extra-soft bristles, with an ergonomic shape able to adapt to the child's hand and facilitate grip. The toothpaste, on the other hand, will be very low in fluoride to prevent accidental ingestion.
How to brush children's teeth
The best way to teach your children to take care of oral hygiene is to make them perceive the moment of washing as something to look forward to! Kids love fun, so let's see some ideas on how to make brushing fun.
Put on their favorite song
Dentists recommend brushing twice a day for two minutes. Choose a song that lasts at least two warnings or longer and let your child listen to it while brushing his teeth. Dance with him and have fun too!
A fairy tale about brushing your teeth
Use your child's favorite character from a TV series or book and create a story about how they brush their teeth diligently. There are also many children's books about brushing your teeth. Read them to your child to make it fun!
Let him choose his toothbrush
Let your kids decide their toothbrush in the store. It can be a princess or a superhero one, whatever they like to use. But beware: the toothbrush must be changed every 3 months!
Of course, make sure your toothbrush has soft bristles and meets all safety requirements.
Give a prize
Come up with some rewards for doing a great job with brushing.
Create a calendar where the children can mark the days they brushed their teeth. If they did it twice a day for a month, they can have a reward at the end of the month.
This is a method that is even used for adults! There are several apps connected to the use of an electric toothbrush that provide for a series of goals to be achieved.
Of course, the children won't be satisfied with a notification on their mobile phone as a reward, but also try to avoid sweets and unhealthy foods ... otherwise the work will have been in vain!
Create the routine
Create a routine so your kids know when it's time to brush their teeth. Choosing a fixed "time slot" will allow them to follow a routine, from which brushing their teeth will be perceived as an automatic action.
Avoid threats
Just as with the dentist visit, threats should not be used to persuade the child to do something. In this way, in fact, the moment will be perceived as something extremely negative, to be afraid of.
On the contrary, the rewards system seems to be much more useful and enjoyable.
Lead by example
This is the most important advice. You can't think of imposing an oral hygiene routine on children if you're not the first to stick to it. Children, even if they don't say it openly, tend to take an example and imitate adults.
Hence, a "group session" can be an excellent solution to get children to brush their teeth. After dinner and before going to bed, you can all go to the bathroom together and brush your teeth one at a time.
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