Tips And Tricks On Brushing Your Child's Teeth
Practicing good dental care can help your children develop strong, healthy teeth and steer clear of tooth decay and cavities. Tooth brushing is an essential part of dental care that allows the teeth to remain free of bacteria, helping your child to develop and maintain a healthy smile. This article provides tips on brushing your child's teeth so as to enhance their oral health and prevent dental compilations such as periodontal disease and gingivitis.
Start early and use the correct technique
Begin brushing your infant's baby teeth as soon as they emerge using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. While brushing, use a slight pressure and small movements so as to avoid injury to the gums. You should brush with your infant lying down on a changing table or couch with their head nearest to you.
Next, use your finger to pull out their cheek and so you can reach the teeth better. While brushing, use the same routine of brushing the inside, outside, and biting surface so that you never miss a spot, and then encourage the child to spit the toothpaste out.
For pre-school children, the best approach would be to sit them on your lap and lean their head slightly on your arm. Next, hold out the lip and cheek with a finger and brush the teeth with short, gentle strokes, ensuring to clean all the way up to the gum lining.
Once your child is about 6 years old, they will essentially be able to handle brushing on their own. You should, however, supervise the process, ensuring that they pay close attention to their new molars which usually have rough surfaces that are notorious for trapping food particles. You should also make sure that they spit the toothpaste out and rinse properly so as to prevent white spots on teeth that may result from fluoride corrosion.
Make brushing enjoyable
There are several tricks you can use to make tooth brushing fun. For instance, you can let your infant play with a toy for distraction or use a story to make the process fun and exciting. For older children, try encouraging them to practice brushing on your teeth.
You should also make a habit to brush together to establish a routine and demonstrate proper technique as you teach them the importance of proper dental hygiene. Finally, let your child chose a toothbrush in their favorite color and try out different flavors of fluoridated toothpaste to keep the process interesting.
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