What toothbrush for a child?
A toothbrush is the most common and popular oral hygiene tool. A large selection of toothbrush types makes it often difficult for us to choose the right product for ourselves, let alone for our child. After all, we want the best for our children. This also applies to the choice of toothbrushes.
What types of toothbrushes can we find on store shelves? And which toothbrush is the best for a baby, and which one for older children?
Types of toothbrushes
Which toothbrush is best for children? Toothbrushes can be divided into: manual, electric and sonic. However, there is no universal advice as to which is best, because each of us has different needs. Therefore, it is worth knowing the characteristics of specific types of toothbrushes and, based on this, choosing the best option for us and our child.
What toothbrush will the best for children: size, bristles and handle
You don't know which toothbrush to choose for your child? When purchasing this product, we should pay attention to several important elements.
Especially since there is a fundamental difference between which toothbrush is suitable for a baby and which one is suitable for an older child.
First:
The brush head should be small, adapted to the child's age. So that it can be easily maneuvered in a child's mouth and clean all surfaces thoroughly. Thorough cleaning may be a problem for the child. Therefore, even in older children (up to 12 years of age), parents should: control the process of brushing teeth and helping to clean them.
Secondly:
The bristles of the toothbrush should be soft because both the enamel of primary teeth and the mucous membrane are there delicate.
Thirdly:
If the child is to try brushing on his own (and that is what we strive for), the handle of the toothbrush should be sufficient thick and comfortable to be held by a little hand.
A toddler is more likely to reach for a toothbrush with a character from their favorite fairy tale or children's movie on it. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that we provide the youngest children with food nice associations combined with tooth brushing. This will help your child develop the important habit of maintaining oral hygiene.
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Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child
What toothbrush for a baby?
We must be aware that a baby's oral hygiene should start before the first tooth appears. It will be much easier for us, parents, to get our child used to the first toothbrush if cleansing his face will be something natural for him.
However, before we reach for the toothbrush, it will serve us well purpose gauze and/ or finger overlay. From there, the natural course of action will be to move on to the next step in your baby's oral care.
Which toothbrush is right for a baby: expert advice
Expert advises
A baby cannot have a toothbrush that is too large. It should be adapted to his mouth - and therefore have a small head. The bristles should be soft so as not to irritate the delicate gums. In stores, you will find an age mark on the packaging of such brushes. When considering which toothbrush will work for an infant, look for the marking 0-2 or 0-3. As it is up to the parent to start the toddler's adventure with the brush, we should also make sure that the brush handle is comfortable for us.
It is recommended to brush your baby's teeth at least twice a day. The best way to start and end the day is in the morning and before you put your baby to sleep.
What toothbrush for a child: manual toothbrush
Manual toothbrushes are still the basic and most common brushing tool. Their structure is simple - they consist of: head with fibers, neck and handle. They do not require any power source, and brushing is performed using appropriate hand movements. In the case of children, these are the most common circular movements.
The biggest difficulty in brushing with a manual toothbrush is taking care of it hand movements and their frequency were appropriate. This is what we should pay the most attention to when teaching our child to brush their teeth.
Expert advises
Also remember that no matter what toothbrush you choose for your child - you should make sure that it is used regularly. Encourage your little one to accompany you while brushing your teeth. Suggest that the child imitate your movements, make it your daily routine. Children will need support in brushing their teeth, on average, until they are 7 years old. Mainly due to the risk of choking, but also control of proper tooth brushing.
What toothbrush for a child: electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is the next step in daily oral hygiene. Thanks automated head movement, which performs oscillating and rotating movements, it facilitates thorough cleaning of teeth. This is especially important for children who may have difficulty performing the manual brushing technique correctly.
Electric toothbrushes often have built-in timers, which provide invaluable support when maintaining them recommended tooth brushing time. This makes daily brushing of children's teeth much easier. What should you remember when choosing an electric toothbrush?
- When choosing an electric toothbrush for your child, make sure it has one adapted to his age.
- The brush heads should be smaller, and fibers softso as not to damage the baby's delicate gums.
- Regular replacement of heads is also key, as is learning how to properly position the toothbrush on your teeth to ensure effective cleaning.
What toothbrush for a child: sonic toothbrush
Sonic toothbrushes for children are an advanced technology in dental care that uses sonic vibrations to remove bacterial plaque. Thanks to their technology, they are able to thoroughly clean teeth and interdental spaces through gentle pulsation of water, toothpaste and saliva, which helps effective removal of contaminants.
When choosing a sonic toothbrush for a child, it is worth being careful. You should pay attention to the gentle operation and the availability of brushing modes - especially if the toothbrush is to be used by the youngest. Gentle modes are suitable for children's sensitive teeth and gums, and the presence of functions such as a timer or pressure sensor can additionally help maintain the correct brushing technique.
More information about electric and sonic toothbrushes can be found in the article: Toothbrush for a child: electric or sonic? Expert opinions
Author Barbara Obłoj - MD, PhD, dentist, expert of the Institute of Mother and Child, owner and medical director of the Center for Orthodontics and Implantology ODENT in Warsaw;
Consultation: ALicja Zawislak - MD, PhD, orthodontist, acting head of the Department of Maxillary Orthopedics and Orthodontics at the Institute of Mother and Child.
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