Proper and Regular Tooth Brushing is Vital to a Child's Development
Proper tooth brushing is essential to the health of all children. Children have to be taught good brushing habits and proper brushing techniques. Failure to teach these disciplines can encourage negligence that will follow a child into adolescence and adulthood. Proactive parents should supervise their children as they are brushing their teeth to make sure they are doing it correctly and for long enough periods of time.
Children need to brush their teeth at least two times a day, but it is better to have them brush after each and every meal. There are four things to keep in mind as well.
The type of toothbrush matters.
Children must always use a soft bristle brush. Medium and hard bristle brushes should NOT be used. A soft toothbrush is more able to remove plaque below the gumline. This is essential to dental heath, because plaque below the gumline contributes to rampant cavity formation in young children.
Medium bristle and hard bristle toothbrushes do not have the flexibility necessary to reach under the gum, and they have a tendency to cut the gums.
Children should brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride makes tooth enamel harder and more resistant to tooth decay. It can stop a in its tracks and make it easier to repair the tooth with cosmetic dental bonding (we do not use silver amalgam fillings in pediatric dentistry.)
Please keep in mind that fluoride toothpaste should never be swallowed. Teach this to your children and store the toothpaste out of reach until they are old enough to understand the dangers of fluoride toxicity.
The angle at which children brush their teeth is also very important.
The toothbrush should be tilted so the tip will brush the backs of the front teeth. This gives the insides of the teeth more attention. It is better for children to begin by brushing the insides of the upper teeth, then switch to the insides of the lower teeth.
It is necessary for children to brush their teeth in a specific pattern.
Whatever teeth the child starts brushing, it is important that he or she follow the same pattern every day to make sure all tooth surfaces are cleaned. Children need to be regularly reminded to gently brush their tongues and the roofs of their mouths. As strange as such advice may seem at face value, it is actually very healthy for the child because it removes the same germs that cause plaque buildup and bad breath.
We have also found, after many years of practicing pediatric dentistry, that children sometimes consider it even more fun to brush their tongues than their teeth!
Children need to brush their teeth at least two times a day, but it is better to have them brush after each and every meal. There are four things to keep in mind as well.
The type of toothbrush matters.
Children must always use a soft bristle brush. Medium and hard bristle brushes should NOT be used. A soft toothbrush is more able to remove plaque below the gumline. This is essential to dental heath, because plaque below the gumline contributes to rampant cavity formation in young children.
Medium bristle and hard bristle toothbrushes do not have the flexibility necessary to reach under the gum, and they have a tendency to cut the gums.
Children should brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride makes tooth enamel harder and more resistant to tooth decay. It can stop a in its tracks and make it easier to repair the tooth with cosmetic dental bonding (we do not use silver amalgam fillings in pediatric dentistry.)
Please keep in mind that fluoride toothpaste should never be swallowed. Teach this to your children and store the toothpaste out of reach until they are old enough to understand the dangers of fluoride toxicity.
The angle at which children brush their teeth is also very important.
The toothbrush should be tilted so the tip will brush the backs of the front teeth. This gives the insides of the teeth more attention. It is better for children to begin by brushing the insides of the upper teeth, then switch to the insides of the lower teeth.
It is necessary for children to brush their teeth in a specific pattern.
Whatever teeth the child starts brushing, it is important that he or she follow the same pattern every day to make sure all tooth surfaces are cleaned. Children need to be regularly reminded to gently brush their tongues and the roofs of their mouths. As strange as such advice may seem at face value, it is actually very healthy for the child because it removes the same germs that cause plaque buildup and bad breath.
We have also found, after many years of practicing pediatric dentistry, that children sometimes consider it even more fun to brush their tongues than their teeth!
Labels: dental floss, pediatric dentistry, tooth brushing
posted by Dental Expert at
10:08 AM
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