Baby's teeth have always been a key point for parents to pay attention to. Eat less sugar and brush your teeth frequently to prevent tooth decay. But have parents ever noticed an obvious problem? Have you ever paid attention to the issue of children's toothbrushes?
Children's toothbrush selection method: choose according to age
2-4 years old: When choosing a children's toothbrush, choose a toothbrush with a small brush head and soft bristles.
Children aged 2-4 already have a neat set of baby teeth, but it is also an age with a high incidence of baby tooth decay. Parents should cultivate their children's habit of brushing their teeth during this stage. At this time, it is necessary to choose a toothbrush with a small brush head and soft bristles. The baby's palm is small and their muscles are not fully developed, so the grip of the toothbrush should be thicker and thicker. It should be noted that at this stage, the baby's fine motor and coordination abilities are poor, making it difficult to brush their teeth clean. Therefore, parents should help their baby brush their teeth. You can have your child sit on their parents' knees and have them support their child's head from behind to help them brush their teeth. Once a day in the morning and once in the evening, for 2-3 minutes each time.
5-7 years old: When choosing a children's toothbrush, choose a toothbrush with cup shaped bristles. The edges of the bristles should be soft and the brush head should be small.
At the age of 5-7, when a child enters the dental replacement period and their first permanent tooth has grown, a cup-shaped brush with soft edges and a small brush head should be chosen to completely surround each tooth for thorough cleaning. At this point, parents should gradually teach their children to brush their teeth independently and supervise the effectiveness of brushing. If there are corners that are not cleaned enough, parents should still help their children clean them thoroughly.
After the age of 8: When choosing a children's toothbrush, choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, a mixed design, and a smaller brush head.
At this time, the baby is in the stage of tooth replacement, with both baby and permanent teeth present, and with a large gap between the teeth, if not paying special attention to brushing, it is easy to form cavities. Therefore, toothbrushes should be chosen with soft bristles, a mixed design, and a smaller brush head to help thoroughly clean teeth and gaps. After changing teeth, parents can choose a health toothbrush for their child.
Additionally, I believe parents have another question about the choice of toothbrushes for children: can children use electric toothbrushes? Next, the editor will talk about whether children can use electric toothbrushes?
For adults, using an electric toothbrush can save a lot of time, but for children, using an electric toothbrush requires some attention. Generally, children under the age of 7 are not suitable for using an electric toothbrush.
Can children use electric toothbrushes?
Because the frequency and strength of electric toothbrushes are fixed, children may not master the appropriate usage methods as well as adults when brushing their teeth. One mistake may damage the tender gums, causing symptoms such as redness, swelling, bleeding, and severe tooth wear. Long term use can cause periodontitis or tooth loss, which is not conducive to the development of children's gums. If it is necessary to use it, it can be used up to two times at a time. It is recommended to choose different types of electric toothbrushes for children.
Next, let's take a look at what to pay attention to when choosing a children's toothbrush.
Precautions for Choosing Children's Toothbrushes
1. Soft bristles: Generally, the bristles of a toothbrush have three levels of flexibility: soft, moderate, and hard. Choosing a toothbrush for children is always a soft, fine bristled toothbrush, because children's teeth and gums are relatively soft and easily damaged.
2. Small head: The toothbrush head chosen for children must be small and flexible enough to move up and down in their small mouth, so that they can brush every small position.
3. Thick grip handle: Children's small hands are not yet flexible enough, and a handle that is too thin is not convenient for children to grip.
4. Cleaning: After using the toothbrush, be sure to clean it thoroughly and promptly, otherwise a large amount of bacteria will accumulate on the toothbrush after a period of use.
5. Update: The toothbrush is usually replaced every three months. If the bristles bend or fall off, the toothbrush should be replaced immediately.
Finally, the editor will provide a few more ways for children to brush their teeth obediently~
1. You need to lead by example. Let your child see how you clean your teeth from a very young age.
2. Let the child brush their teeth in front of the mirror, so that they will have a visual familiarity with brushing their teeth.
3. You can establish rules at home: brush your teeth first, and then listen to the story.
4. Children should be encouraged to continue brushing their teeth, but not become the focus of arguments. If they strongly resist, they can temporarily give up brushing their teeth.