Devine

Blog

Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

How to choose your Child’s First Toothbrush

When your children’s first teeth erupt, it’s time to focus on their dental and care and teach them how to brush their teeth properly. Selecting a toothbrush for your kids can be stressful when there are numerous options available in the market. Kids toothbrushes differ in size and shape depending on requirement and ability, both of which change as your child grows. Knowing some easy tips can assist you in selecting a toothbrush that cleans your child’s teeth adequately and motivates good dental care habits.

Importance of Child Oral Care

According to dental experts, the oral care of babies should start as soon as they are born. You can start with wiping your baby’s gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. Try to avoid swiping your finger in their mouth to remove any leftover milk or food, especially if your baby doesn’t like to have other objects near their mouth. It can lead to your baby, catching the bacteria that cause cavities through the exchange of fluids with you. As a result, cavity development can happen even before the teeth erupt in your baby’s mouth.

Tips for Choosing Your Child’s First Toothbrush

Child Size: A child’s mouth is much smaller compared to an adult, so you can’t merely buy them the same type of toothbrush you utilize. Your kid’s first toothbrush should have a head that is tiny enough to fit comfortably between their back molars and cheek. It can be beneficial to take your child with you when shopping so you can select a more accurate sized toothbrush.

Soft Bristles for Sensitive Mouths: There are ample options for toothbrush bristles available in the market. Mostly, you can find them in soft, medium, and hard. For your kid’s first toothbrush, you must opt for soft bristles. Many expert dentists suggest rounded, soft bristles for effective teeth cleaning that will not irritate sensitive gums. Avoid brushes with extra rubber bristles as they can cut gums and don’t offer any extra cleaning power.

Easy-to-Hold Handles: As your child is learning to brush, you need to consider the handle to let them use it without your help. Usually, toothbrush handles come in a broad range of sizes and shapes. There is no hard-and-fast rule for selecting the perfect toothbrush handle. Instead, it’s better to focus on finding the handle that is the most comfortable for your kid to grip. If the toothbrush is uncomfortable for your child to hold, they’ll most likely won’t brush for the entire two minutes that they should.

Go for Electric Toothbrushes: There can be a fun way to motivate your growing and curious kid to brush twice regularly. An electric toothbrush comes in fun, character-themed styles that allow them to choose one with their favourite cartoon character. It will excite your child to practice good oral care. Since most of these toothbrushes are timed to stop after two minutes, your kid will know that they have to keep brushing until the toothbrush shuts off.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.