During a conversation with several baby mothers, I found that many parents have a big misconception about the issue of brushing their baby's teeth starting from when they are a few years old. Some mothers tell me, "Your child has only grown a few teeth now, where do you need to brush their teeth?" Some mothers say, "Your child's gums are very delicate now, so there's no need to rush to brush their teeth. You can wait for their teeth to develop stably before starting to help them brush their teeth." Some mothers also think, "You can wait until your child's teeth have all grown up before helping them brush their teeth." In fact, these views are all wrong.
First brushing: After the first tooth erupts
It is very important to provide basic oral health measures for children from the first year of birth. Some experts suggest cleaning and massaging the gums before the baby's baby's baby teeth erupt, which will help establish a healthy oral ecosystem and facilitate tooth eruption.
After the baby's first tooth sprouts, parents can help their baby "brush" their teeth. Parents can gently wipe their baby's teeth and gum tissue with clean, soft, and moist gauze, or choose a fingertip toothbrush that fits over their fingers to clean their baby's teeth. There is no strict limit on the number of times a baby can "brush their teeth" every day, but at least once in the morning and once in the evening. It is best to help the baby clean their mouth every time they finish eating. This not only provides a clean mouth for the baby, but also gently massages the baby's gums, making both gums and teeth healthier.
At the beginning of wiping your baby's teeth, they may be curious and mischievous, and may intentionally bite your fingers to try. Parents should not be angry with their babies at this time, but should be patient with them and bring them more fun in this matter, rather than scolding and forcing. Gradually, the baby will adapt to the daily life of cleaning their mouth and teeth.
First time accompanying brushing teeth: after the age of 2
After the child is 2 years old and their upper and lower baby teeth have already sprouted, you can use a children's toothbrush toothpaste to help the child brush their teeth! When choosing a toothbrush for your baby, choose a small, soft bristled children's toothbrush. To ensure that children do not consume excessive amounts of fluoride, fluoride containing children's toothpaste should only be used around the age of 3. The time for brushing teeth is once a day in the morning and evening, and it should be persisted for about 3 minutes each time. The top, bottom, left and right sides, inside and outside of the teeth should be brushed clean. At the beginning, parents can help their children brush their teeth. As the child grows older, they can try squeezing toothpaste, brushing their teeth, and rinsing their mouth on their own.
Although brushing teeth requires children to do it themselves, parents should also guide their children to clean their teeth in the correct way and remind them not to let the bristles damage their oral mucosa and gums. One of the main purposes of allowing children to brush their teeth on their own during this period is to cultivate good hygiene habits, so it is best for parents to supervise their children to brush their teeth at least once a night to ensure that they have the correct brushing method and sufficient brushing time, and not to let their children perfunctory.
The first time I brush my teeth: at the age of 3 or 4
Some parents may ask, "Dr. Zhu, when do we start letting children brush their teeth by themselves?" In fact, when to brush their teeth independently should vary depending on the individual situation of the child. Generally speaking, at the age of 3 or 4, children are in the stage of developing their hands-on and coordination skills, which can easily lead to a strong interest and desire to try brushing their teeth. At this point, children can be given an independent space to complete the task on their own.
But parents cannot be completely hands-off shopkeepers. One reason is that children are more active in their attention, making it easy for them to fish for three days and brush their teeth while basking in the net for two days. The second reason is that children's abilities are limited, and even though they are brushing their teeth carefully every time, they still may not be able to clean them thoroughly. So parents still need to supervise their children from time to time, and it is best to help them brush their teeth and thoroughly clean their teeth every three to five days.
Post time: May-15-2023