With the appearance of the long-awaited baby in the family, parents begin to worry about the questions: how to take care of milk teeth? At what age should a child start brushing their teeth? How to teach a little man to independently carry out oral hygiene? Many turn to their mothers and grandmothers for experience, but we will try to answer all your questions in this article.

Why should a child have oral hygiene?

There is an opinion among parents that caring for milk teeth is completely optional, they say, they will change, they will fall out, and that's it. However, dentists called this statement erroneous.

Caries of early teeth contributes to the spread of infection through the oral cavity throughout the body. Sometimes non-observance of hygiene can cause the development of pyelonephritis, tonsillitis, as well as a lot of dental diseases (candidiasis, cysts, etc.).

Also, tooth damage causes unfamiliar and rather severe pain, can provoke hyperthermia, and prevents the baby from chewing food. If you start the process, even a baby tooth will have to be removed from the dentist, which, by the way, is undesirable, because it can adversely affect the formation of bite, cause speech pathology, curvature of the entire row.

That is why it is important for parents to take up the hygiene of the baby's oral cavity in a timely manner.

When to start brushing your teeth

So when should you start brushing your baby's teeth? The beginning of oral care coincides with the time of the first appearance of milk teeth. As a rule, this period falls on half a year or a year, but in each family individually.

Many dentists also believe that oral hygiene should be started before teeth appear. They attribute this to the fact that in the process of feeding on the baby's mucosa, bacteria and microbes, fungal microorganisms accumulate, which ultimately can cause the development of candidiasis, gingivitis and stomatitis. In addition, early manipulations rather accustom the child to sensations, develop the habit of regularly monitoring the condition of the teeth. Therefore, the appropriate time to start brushing your child's teeth is 3-4 months of age.

Suitable products for the hygiene of children's teeth and gums

Parents should understand that hygiene practices differ depending on the child's age, teeth, etc.

For example, before teething, the baby's gums and tongue should be gently wetted to remove plaque and pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. The very first teeth should also be wiped with mild agents. To do this, you can use the following tools:

1. Bandage or gauze moistened with purified and slightly salted water. It is not advisable to use cotton wool and sponges, because their surface does not have irregularities that allow removing light plaque. Also, cotton wool can get wet and leave fibers on the gums.
2. Special dental wipes... Manufacturers care about the younger generation by offering a range of soft wipes impregnated with a special antiseptic agent - xylitol. It disinfects and disinfects the gums and uvula, early teeth. Moreover, caring for them will be even more comfortable, because the napkins have such a pleasant fruity taste. Of course, not every family can afford this procedure, because napkins can be used only once, and the cost of packaging is quite substantial.
3. Finger napkins. Impregnated with the same xylitol, the napkins help to clean milk teeth, relieve pain during their teething, and also prevent children's candidiasis, gingivitis and caries, relieve swelling and inflammation of the gums.

   They also come with or without mint or fruit flavors. Suitable for cleaning the oral cavity from 4 months to 6 years.

We figured out before a year how and how to brush a child's teeth, however, at 1 year old, what kind of hygiene is necessary?

As a rule, after 6 months of life, the baby's natural pushing reflex disappears, which makes it possible to perform hygiene by other methods:

1. Finger brush. At this age, a little man will not be able to hold a full-fledged brush himself, and even more so to perform the necessary movements. A silicone soft brush is put on the parent's finger, which makes it possible to clean teeth in the most inaccessible corners.
2. Children's toothbrush... It differs from the standard very soft bristle, rubberized and non-slip short handle. The cleaning surface of such a brush usually does not exceed the area of ​​two teeth of a child.

In addition to the brush, you must use a suitable paste, which is also produced according to the age category.

1. Gel paste(tasteless, milk-flavored) is used for infants who do not receive complementary foods. In no case does it contain active cleaning agents, abrasive components that can negatively affect young enamel.
2. Plain baby pasta... Suitable for older toddlers who have switched to adult food items. Typically also has a gel base and a pleasant fruity flavor.

How to brush your baby's first teeth correctly

Teach your baby that hygiene should be done at least 2 times a day - in the morning after eating and in the evening before going to bed. The duration of cleansing manipulations should be 2-3 minutes, but in infants, the procedure may take less time.

What are the technical aspects of proper teeth cleaning:

1. Place the brush at an angle of 45 ° to the teeth.
2. We make stroking movements with it from the base of the tooth to the cutting part, and we cover both its outer and inner sides.
3. The surface of the chewing teeth should be cleaned with progressive and circular motions, reaching the farthest corners of the mouth, not ignoring the last teeth.
4. Be sure to clear your tongue. Pay attention to the back of the brush when purchasing. It must have a rough abrasive surface that allows you to remove micro-residues of food and waste products of bacteria from the papillae of the tongue.
5. After using the paste, the mouth should be thoroughly rinsed 3-4 times.

   Also, it will not be superfluous to use mouthwash solutions. A light citrus-mint water may be suitable for a child. The solutions are suitable for intermediate oral hygiene after meals, drinking tea and cocoa.

Learning to brush your teeth on your own

How to brush teeth for a child at 2 years old? At this age, you can begin to show how to brush your teeth yourself.

Take the little one into the bathroom in the morning, hand him a bright and beautiful brush, help squeeze out the fragrant baby paste and, of course, sit by the mirror. Children are curious to observe their movements, as well as to control the process.

It is very easy to introduce your child to the procedure using the following tricks:

1. Find your favorite song or counting ritual for your little one and teach him to do the cleansing movements to the beat. Or you can come up with a rhyme yourself about the benefits of brushing your teeth and tongue, and how they will be grateful to the baby for the care provided.
2. Brushing teeth can become an act of destroying evil carious monsters for a child, attacking the mouth and causing illness.
3. Demonstrate the process on your favorite doll, soft toy, or even a child's toy car. Let him know that oral care is very important in the fight against germs. Therefore, he himself must watch the teeth, and "help" the toys.
4. Also, children are very fond of sports. Go to the bathroom with the whole family and race to brush your teeth. But, of course, parents should give in and lose.

Remember that early oral hygiene has a positive effect on the formation of the dentition and instills healthy habits in your baby.

vashyzuby.ru

taken from the internet:
Oddly enough, in the answer to this question, the opinions of all dentists coincide - as soon as they erupted. To put it mildly, such an answer puts parents in a state of a stopper. How? we are used to toothpaste and brushing, which seem incompatible with caring for a baby. That's right, adult hygiene products are not suitable for a baby - you need a special brush and toothpaste.

To begin with, caring for your teeth can be limited to rubbing them with boiled water. First, with a piece of gauze dipped in boiled water, then with special brushes, which the parent puts on his finger and brushes the child's teeth himself.

After a while, the baby can be given a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles, and given the opportunity to brush his teeth on his own.

He should do this twice a day, like an adult, but using a special children's paste, which is strictly appropriate in its composition to the age of the child. In particular, for children under 3 years old, such a paste should not contain fluoride compounds, since at this age the child completely swallows it.

Due to imperfect motor skills, the baby is still unable to clean his teeth properly on his own. Therefore, parents must do this again in order to completely remove plaque. This repeated brushing should be done regularly for 1-2 years, until it is sure that the child is brushing his teeth correctly and well. And be sure to teach your child to rinse their mouth after every meal!

It is very important to teach your baby how to properly care for his teeth, so that it becomes a habit as early as possible and becomes an obligatory part of self-care.

When your child is one year old, it's time to use baby paste. It is squeezed onto the brush in the size of a "pea". Small children often swallow the paste, so try not to use it in early age fluoride-containing pastes. Frequent ingestion of this substance into the body can have unpleasant consequences for the baby.

A milk toothbrush should be chosen carefully and replaced every three months. The brush head should be small in size and should not overlap more than two teeth. The bristles are only soft.

A child should learn to brush his teeth on his own by the age of two, with the best example being the parents themselves. Brush your teeth with your child at least twice a day. You can hold the brush together and guide your baby. So he will better remember and get used to the regularity of hygiene procedures.

To prevent the kid from being capricious, offer him a game of "toothpick". For example, we compete to see who is the best to brush your teeth. The winner is the one who cleaned for longer ...

And now we will master the basic movements of proper teeth cleaning, which should be taught to your baby too.

1. When cleaning the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth, the working part of the toothbrush is placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the tooth and sweeping movements are made from the gum to the outer edge of the tooth.

2. To clean the chewing surfaces, the brush is placed horizontally and reciprocated. When cleaning the inner surfaces of the chewing teeth, use short strokes, positioning the brush at an angle to the vertical axis of the tooth.

3. When cleaning the inner surfaces of the front teeth, the handle of the toothbrush is positioned vertically, the direction of movement is from the gum to the cutting edge of the tooth.

Remember: Proper brushing of your teeth can prevent the development of many dental diseases, reduce the risk of caries, gum disease, and prevent premature tooth loss.

otvet.mail.ru

At what age should a child start brushing their teeth?

The time when you need to start brushing your baby's teeth depends on the appearance of the first tooth. After all, decayed or lost teeth get in the way good nutrition and the development of speech.

It is necessary to brush a child's teeth from the moment the first tooth appears. The procedure is performed twice a day. Starting early will help your baby get used to the brushing process more quickly.

You can use toothbrushes. They should be very soft and have no more than three rows of bristles.

Throw away any toothbrushes that have a rough edge or are more than two to four months old because pathogenic bacteria are starting to grow and multiply on these brushes.

The baby's first tooth will most likely be the lower front tooth. In most cases, it appears when the baby is about six months old. However, the time for the first tooth to erupt can vary greatly. Some newborns already have one tooth! In other children, teeth appear only in a year.

The baby will eventually have 20 deciduous teeth. All this should happen by the time the baby is 2.5-3 years old.

Should I clean my baby's gums before teething?

Even before your baby's first tooth appears, it would be nice to get used to wiping your gums with gauze or a soft damp cloth while bathing. You don't need to use any toothpaste. Simply wrap a cloth or gauze around your index finger and gently rub the baby's gums.

Bacteria in the mouth usually cannot harm the gums until the teeth appear. But sometimes it can be difficult to determine when teeth are starting to erupt, so it is advisable to start caring for your baby's oral cavity early.

Choosing the best toothpaste for your child

Nowadays, the variety of toothpastes, different brands and fragrances specially designed for children has grown significantly. The many options available can make choosing the best toothpaste for your child's dental health more difficult than expected.

When choosing the best toothpaste for your child and their teeth consider a few parameter.

Safety

Choose a toothpaste with a StAR (Dental Association of Russia) approval mark. It is important to select a toothpaste that is approved as a harmless and effective product to maintain optimal dental health.

To make sure you are buying a StAR recommended product, look for their approval seal, which should be located on the toothpaste box and tube. The StAR seal guarantees that the toothpaste has been objectively tested and approved by the StAR Science Council.

Softness

Abrasive toothpastes are not the best option. Choosing a toothpaste that is appropriate for your child's age is very important. Some toothpastes contain harsh ingredients that erode and wear out the protective outer coating of teeth - enamel.

When should you start brushing your child's teeth with fluoride toothpaste? According to StAR, children of almost all ages should use a toothpaste containing fluoride, which protects teeth from cavities and plaque (anti-caries toothpastes).

The recommended amount for children under 3 years old is the size of a grain of rice, for older children the size of a pea is recommended. Children under two years old usually cannot spit out toothpaste, so for this age it is necessary to select fluoride-free toothpastes (PRESIDENT Baby, Weleda, Splat Juicy Set, SPLAT Junior 0 to 4 years, ROCS - PRO Baby "," ROCS baby - fragrant chamomile ").

Pleasant taste

Consider the taste. While the scent may not be technically significant for dental health, choosing a toothpaste that is pleasant for the child helps the child enjoy brushing their teeth more.

Some children dislike the taste of mint toothpastes because they cause a tingling sensation in the mouth. Children tend to brush their teeth more willingly when "fun" toothpaste flavors such as strawberry or chewing gum are offered.

When to start brushing your child's teeth with whitening toothpaste?

Does your child have teeth stains that you want to remove, but is it too early to start teeth whitening treatment?

Whitening toothpastes can be beneficial, but check the recommended age for use on the toothpaste packaging first. This is usually 2 years, but it all depends on the specific product.

Whitening toothpastes can be beneficial in removing surface stains, but deeper stains from drugs, trauma, or products that have deeply stained your teeth will not budge. Talk to your dentist about the causes of stains on his teeth.

If you decide to use a whitening toothpaste, choose one that contains fluoride. Check with your son or daughter's dentist before attempting any other way to whiten your child's teeth.

Look at the instructions for use on the toothpaste packaging for how much product to use according to age.

After the child has all the permanent teeth, you can start using a mild form of whitening. For example, whitening strips.

How to properly brush your child's teeth?

Since young children do not know how to properly brush their teeth, parents must teach them.

This will be easy to achieve by doing next important steps.

• Step 1: To properly brush baby teeth, a parent or child must point a soft bristled toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gums of the upper and lower teeth.
• Step 2: The toothbrush should be gently moved back and forth in short strokes along the teeth and gums. Likewise, continue along the inner and outer surfaces of each tooth.
• Step 3: The brush tip should be placed in an upright position to reach the top and bottom behind the front teeth.
• Step 4: To remove bacteria on the surface of the tongue, you need to clean it too.

How to brush your child's teeth at 1 year old?

You need to get used to brushing your child's teeth twice a day. Do this once in the morning, at a time that follows your usual rules. The second cleaning should be before bedtime, after feeding.

Brush in small circular motions, focusing on the area where your teeth and gums meet.

When you're done, make sure your child spits out excess toothpaste, but don't rinse your mouth with water. When some toothpaste is left on your teeth, it works better.

If your child is about two or three years old, it's time to start teaching him how to brush and care for his teeth on his own. Although learning basic oral hygiene techniques and habits begins in early childhood, it is a process that takes several years.

Preschoolers do not yet have the fine motor skills to deftly manipulate a toothbrush. Therefore, it is important to continue teaching and supervising the brushing of a child's teeth until he reaches the age of 6-8 years.

Your child will probably want to try it out. Be sure to follow the thoroughness of the cleaning.

How to teach a child to brush his teeth correctly if he does not like a toothbrush?

Unfortunately, not every child enjoys brushing their teeth. When your baby's teeth are teething and the gums are very sensitive and sore, the baby may resist.

Here's what to try if brushing your teeth is accompanied by a struggle between parent and baby.

• Act softly... The baby's gums are sensitive even when the teeth are not erupting. So if your little one really doesn't like the brush, try a soft sponge and gentle touch.
• Sing a song... For some children, a little distraction is all it takes to make brushing comfortable. Sing your favorite melody while brushing children's teeth. The kid will be in a good mood and can reward you with a smile.
• Show him how it's done... Watching Mom or Dad brush their teeth and enjoy the process can turn brushing into a game: Mom goes first ... now it's your turn!
• Let him play... Your child is more likely to be curious about a toothbrush. Encourage his interest by letting him hold the brush and explore at his own pace. Perhaps he can even put the brush in his mouth himself and try to wield it.

When should my child be shown to the dentist?

It is recommended to take your child to the dentist within six months after the first tooth appears or after the first birthday. Meanwhile, the pediatrician must examine the child's teeth (if any) at each visit to the clinic.

How else can you protect your child's teeth?

The main cause of tooth decay is sugar. Whenever your little one has something sweet in their mouth, the sugar begins to break down the mineral surface of the teeth.

Your baby's teeth can recover from sugary foods, but this can take several hours. If he often eats sweets during the day, his teeth will not have time to recover.

Offer your child sugary foods and drinks only with meals so that there is a few hours between sweets. Sweets include dried fruits, smoothies and juices.

When giving your child a snack between meals, choose these delicious food like cheese or vegetables.

To truly give your child the best chance of having healthy teeth, do following:

1. Offer as drinks infant only breast milk, infant formula or chilled boiled water.
2. Avoid fruit juices, flavored milk, and sodas. They are usually high in sugar and cause tooth decay.
3. At about six months, teach your baby to drink from a glass. When he is one year old, try to wean him off using the bottle. At night, give only milk or water as a drink.
4. Provide your child with healthy balanced diet... Encourage him to enjoy delicious foods like vegetables and cereals. Don't add sugar to food.
5. If you are using cooked baby foods, make sure they are free of sugar or sweeteners. Remember that other sugars like fructose and glucose are just as bad for your baby's teeth as plain sugar.
6. If little child need to take medication, choose sugar-free options.

When you teach your children to brush their teeth, the dental office can help. Developing the right oral hygiene habits will help children maintain healthy teeth for years to come.

kroha.info

Dentists say that you need to start brushing your child's teeth already when the very first tooth appears. But if the baby is willingly given to carry out hygienic manipulations, it is possible to start brushing his teeth already from three months.

Not everyone agrees with them, believing that before the age of two, brushing your teeth often does not make sense, because at this age it is very difficult to brush your teeth correctly. But for that, you and your parents - help. The hygiene of the children's mouth still needs to be maintained: avoid constant food intake (cookies, nuts) so that food is not constantly in the mouth, do not overeat at night and fall asleep with food debris in your teeth. It is important to maintain optimal humidity in the room so that the child does not dry out in his mouth, and the saliva can perform its functions (washing and disinfecting the oral cavity).

The main condition for starting cleaning children's teeth is that the child should enjoy this process.

So, you can start brushing your teeth at any age, as long as the child likes it. Can a child's mouth be cleaned without teeth? You can, but not with a brush, but with my mother's finger. To do this, you need to wrap your finger with a clean bandage and gently walk along the gums, cheeks and tongue of the child. This is both hygiene and, at the same time, gum massage. You can also use industrial devices: today on sale there are special silicone caps with villi and finger wipes.

The first toothbrush

As soon as the first tooth appears, you can buy a brush. What kind of brush a child needs at your age, the inscription on the package will tell you - usually the manufacturer indicates at what age each brush is suitable. It is desirable that it be closed with a protective cap.

It will be great if the kid himself participates in the purchase of a toothbrush. But for this he needs to know what a toothbrush is and why it is needed. That is, long before that, he should see how adults and older children brush their teeth. “Do-it-yourself” shopping will make the learning process for brushing your teeth easier and more enjoyable.

The first toothpaste

At first, while there are no teeth, the paste is not needed, and with their appearance you can already buy it. The main thing is that the first paste does not contain fluoride. It is good for the teeth, but if it enters the stomach, it is toxic to the body. Therefore, dispense with fluoride-free paste until the child learns to spit it out and rinse it out. If your area is high in fluoride, or if your tap water is fluoridated rather than chlorinated, no family member needs fluoride toothpaste.
It is wrong to think that you don't need to brush your baby teeth because they will fall out anyway. The more attention you pay to cleaning milk teeth, the sooner the child will develop the skill of regular and correct brushing of teeth, and this will serve as a huge plus for health. permanent teeth.

svoi-detki.ru

When to start brushing your child's teeth

Some parents are of the opinion that brushing their baby teeth is not necessary at all. In fact, they need to be as thoroughly cleaned and treated as permanent ones, since insufficient and untimely care can lead to the formation of caries, and in especially difficult cases - to pulpitis and periodontitis. Subsequently, all this negatively affects the formation of permanent teeth.

So at what age do children brush their teeth? This should start as early as possible, literally with the eruption of the first incisor. But the timing of the appearance of milk teeth varies from 4 to 10 months. After a year, fangs begin to erupt, and by the age of two, the baby already has a full set of teeth - as many as 20 pieces.

Hygiene basics, or pre-teething oral care

Many dentists recommend starting caring for the child's oral cavity even before the first baby teeth begin to erupt. This is a good prevention of candidiasis, or thrush, and besides, it will minimize the inflammatory process when the teeth begin to erupt. So at what age do children brush their teeth?

Children begin to clean their gums, not teeth, at about three months, that is, a couple of months before the start of their eruption. To do this, use a gauze swab. To clean the oral cavity, it is moistened in boiled water and immediately after eating, they wipe the inner surface of the cheeks, gums and tongue with it. And about once a week for the prevention of candidiasis and dental diseases, it is recommended to moisten a gauze swab in a weak soda solution.

First teeth cleaning

The earliest devices that parents use to clean newly erupted teeth were silicone fingertips. They are designed to massage the gums during teething and to clean teeth before introducing the first complementary food. Then another question arises: at what age can a child brush his teeth with a toothbrush?

As soon as the baby begins to get acquainted with adult food, the first plaque forms on the enamel, which is food for caries and, accordingly, needs cleaning. Then you can buy a brush for your baby. However, the brush can be with silicone bristles and can also be worn on the finger. But the use of the paste is still categorically not recommended. For a one-year-old baby, it is enough to moisten the brush in boiled water and walk it over the surface of the teeth.

How to brush your teeth at 2 years old

When complementary foods are introduced to the child in full and he begins to gradually move to the main table, the boiled water with which the parents wet the toothbrush will no longer cope with so much plaque and food debris. Here, the question of at what age to start brushing a child's teeth should no longer be in front of parents. Two years is the deadline. And urgently and immediately. Otherwise, food debris that gets stuck between teeth that are tightly positioned in a row (and by this age there will be 20 of them in the dental row), will become food for caries.

That is why at 2 years of age, teeth need to be brushed with a special brush with toothpaste. Moreover, if a child from childhood was accustomed to brushing his gums, and then his teeth twice a day, then for him the new duty will not become a big problem and he will only do it with pleasure.

So, the child is 2 years old, and the task of the parents at this moment is to introduce him to toothpaste and teach him how to use the brush correctly. But if the answer to the question at what age children brush their teeth no longer arises, then another controversial point follows. What kind of paste to buy for a child - with or without fluoride? Can I use adult paste?

A two-year-old child is allowed to brush his teeth only with a specialized baby paste. Compared to an adult, it contains less abrasive substances, has flavoring and aromatic additives. In addition, enzymes, casein, xylitol and calcium are added to children's pastes, which improve the structure of the tooth and have a bactericidal effect. For children under 3 years of age, fluoride-free pastes are produced. The child can even swallow them without harm to their health.

Technics

The technique for proper brushing of teeth in children is as follows:

1. The procedure for brushing teeth in children is similar to that for adults. The brush is applied to the base of the teeth and sweeps upward. That is, brushing occurs from the gums to the edges.
2. Similar actions are repeated from the inside and outside, to the right and to the left. In this way, "sweeping" is necessary to clean all the teeth. In this case, the pressure on the enamel should be minimal. It is important not to damage your teeth or gums when brushing.
3. The chewing teeth should be brushed in a circular motion from the top.
4. During the cleaning process, do not forget about the tongue. It is cleaned with the back of a toothbrush, which is exactly what it is designed for.
5. Electric brushes can be used to speed up the process. At what age should a child brush his teeth with such a device? From about three years old, before this age, you should not even try.

Choosing a toothbrush

Another important point concerns the choice of a toothbrush. The fact is that the brushes with which adults brush their teeth are not suitable for babies. There are special requirements for the choice of this product for children:

1. You should not buy brushes with natural bristles for your child. The fact is that dangerous microorganisms and bacteria accumulate in it, which simply cannot be removed with a stream of water. Plus, natural bristles are tough and can damage your baby's delicate gums.
2. Choose a brush for brushing your teeth according to the age of your baby. If he is under two years old, you can use finger pads to care for your enamel and tongue, which also do an excellent job of removing plaque.
3. The size of the toothbrush head should be round and small. This will reduce the level of injury while cleaning the enamel.

Many dentists recommend buying electric brushes that run on batteries for brushing your teeth. Their advantage is that plaque is removed from the enamel and tongue quickly and efficiently. The only drawback is that not all children perceive these brushes adequately. For some, vibration causes fear, and they categorically refuse to cleanse.

At what age to brush your child's teeth: Komarovsky E.O. and his recommendations

The famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky gives his recommendations for brushing your teeth. He advises starting this process as early as possible, starting with the first tooth, and recommends using silicone onlays for this. But parents should not forget that all this should take place in the form of a game, that is, the child should like the process itself. This will allow you to further develop a positive response to the duty to brush your teeth.

Also, parents should not forget at what age a child needs to brush their teeth. At a maximum of 2 years, they should introduce him to the brush and paste. Moreover, if the child categorically refuses to fulfill such a duty, it is not worth making him. If necessary, you can wait up to three years. The main thing is not to force you to brush your teeth. It will be better to use such methods in education in which the child will have a desire to brush his teeth on his own, without pressure from the parents.

The guarantee of a beautiful smile for an adult largely depends on how well the oral cavity care was organized at an early age. The following recommendations will help many parents avoid mistakes in the future:

1. The child should be taught to take care of the oral cavity as early as possible, namely at the age of three months. Then there will be no unnecessary questions as to at what age to teach a child to brush his teeth. Everything will happen gradually, just at first the role of the brush will be performed by a gauze swab and a silicone pad on the finger, and then by a toothbrush with paste.
2. The paste should be of high quality, with a short shelf life and without fluoride in the composition.
3. Dentist checkups should be done twice a year. This will allow timely detection of diseases and timely treatment of teeth, which will subsequently have a positive effect on the health of the entire oral cavity.

Caring for a child is a crucial moment for every parent. The issue of brushing your baby's teeth is far from the last among other parental concerns. Very often, moms and dads turn to pediatricians and pediatric dentists for advice,From what age better to start to brush the teeth of a child... Also, many parents are concerned about the question,how to teach a child brush your teeth yourself because small children, often, simply do not want to brush their teeth and throw tantrums with the wrong approach.

In today's article we will talk about how from what age to brush the teeth of a child, about the aspects of brushing teeth in babies, as well as provide an effective technique that will help teach a child to perform this procedure necessary for health every day.

What is the best age to start brushing your teeth?

The most important question that worries all moms and dads. The recommendations of pediatric dentists say that it is best to start caring for the baby's oral cavity from the moment the symptoms of teething appear. If a child does not sleep well, cries, pulls pens and toys into his mouth, his temperature rises and there is profuse salivation - there is no doubt that the first teeth will appear soon. Most often, this period falls on 3-6 months from the moment the baby is born.

How to take care of the oral cavity at this time and when should you do it? Start brushing your child's teethbest 30-40 minutes after breastfeeding or formula feeding. First of all, mom or dad should wash their hands thoroughly. After that, take the child in your arms, wrap your finger with clean gauze, which must first be moistened in warm boiled water and gently massage the baby's gums in a circular motion.

This procedure improves blood circulation in the gingival mucosa and relieves pain. Instead of gauze, you can use a so-called finger toothbrush. Such a brush looks like a rubber cap from a handle with bumps or rubber bristles, which a mother can put on her finger and also massage the gums of her child.

Another alternative to this procedure is the use of special teething brushes with a safety disc. The child can hold this brush in the handle and chew on it. A special protective disc will protect the baby from injury. Such a brush will teach a child to take care of their teeth from early infancy. In addition, the baby does not have to feel fear of another "invasion" of his mother's hand to massage the gums.

At what age can a child brush his teeth?with a toothbrush? The answer is simple - from the moment the first incisors appear (starting from the 8th month). A brush with rubber bristles is ideal for this procedure. It is soft and comfortable, does not damage the mucous membrane of the baby's oral cavity. Despite this, such a brush will allow you to get rid of the remains of viscous liquid food, which forms the basis of the child's diet during this period. In the future, when the rest of the teeth begin to erupt, parents should switch to full-fledged children's brushes.

They differ from adult brushes with the following parameters:

Small head (about 1-1.5 cm).

Soft artificial bristles.

Comfortable rubber grip.

The most rounded edges.

If you are in doubt about the use of the paste, the pediatric dentist will help resolve the issue,From what age it's better to start brushing your child's teeth, use oral hygiene products. The minimum age, before reaching which, nevertheless, it is undesirable to use the paste is 2-2.5 years. Parents should understand that, although a two-year-old child can brush his teeth with paste, it should be extremely specialized. Mom's and Dad's pasta will not work in this case. It is better to buy a baby gel that will not harm the baby, even if he swallows it.

Thus, the question “ What exactly age do you need to brush your child's teeth? "remains open. Each parent will have to answer it independently, relying on the recommendations of the pediatric dentist and the peculiarities of the baby.

What is the correct way to brush your child's teeth?

When to start brushing your child's teeth, we have disassembled. The next question is “How to brush your child's teeth? ”. In addition to the fact that brushing your teeth is strictly individual, this process will differ for a baby 1 year old and 2 years old. It is worth remembering this and taking into account all the features of the development of the dental-jaw system of children at this age.

How to brush your baby's teeth?

An infant is a baby in the first year of life. During this period, the baby's milk teeth are just beginning to erupt. In this regard, as we said earlier, unpleasant pain sensations may occur, the temperature rises, sleep becomes poor and the child refuses to eat. To relieve the torment of their child, mothers massage the gums with gauze tied on a finger or a finger toothbrush. Gauze can be moistened in ordinary warm boiled water, but dentists recommend using special foams. They are easy to use, have bactericidal, analgesic (cooling) and anti-inflammatory effects.

Foams increase the baby's resistance (resistance) to infections, since they contain lysozyme, glucose oxidase and other immunomodulating substances in their composition. In addition to gauze and a finger toothbrush, you can also use dental wipes and xylitol finger wipes. They also have antibacterial properties and can prevent the development of stomatitis and thrush, which are common in young children.

Such gentle methods of cleaning the oral cavity in infants are used not only due to the absence of teeth, but also due to the presence of a push reflex. This reflex is necessary for feeding from a bottle or mom's breast. What is its essence? The baby presses the tongue on the chest from below and the mixture (milk) flows into the back third of the tongue. Thus, the child can automatically swallow a portion of liquid food. This reflex fades away up to 6 months.

When the mother introduces the first spoonful of food (at about 4-5 months of age), the child pushes the spoon out with his tongue, in view of the push-out reflex still present. The same will happen with a toothbrush. Therefore, parents must clean the child's mouth with their own hands using a special napkin or regular gauze.

But at what age do you need to brush your teethwith a brush? After 6 months, you can safely buy a baby toothbrush with rubber bristles.

They are of three types, depending on the age of the child:

From half a year to 8 months

8 months to 1 year

1 to 2 years

These baby brushes are very soft, elastic, have a non-slip handle and a stopper.How to brush teeth for a child under one year oldwith such brushes? First, the child needs to get used to the foreign object (toothbrush) in the mouth. To do this, you need to use a brush for babies 6-8 months old. It is very similar in design to a nipple.

It is enough to give such a toothbrush to the baby twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). The next step is to teach your child the correct brushing movements. Here a brush for children of 8-12 months will come to the rescue. It differs from the previous one in a longer neck. Thus, the child will be able to learn how to brush his teeth by himself, following the example of his parents. And finally, the last step is learning how to thoroughly clean. To do this, you need a brush for children 1-2 years old or an ordinary children's toothbrush, which we wrote about above. Brushing your teeth should be done according to all the rules.

How to brush your child's teeth at 1 year old?

Questions about how to properly brush your child's teethat this age, the parents should not have it. If you follow all the rules for cleaning the oral cavity in infancy, it becomes clear that at this age the child improves his brushing skills and gradually switches to children's toothbrushes with artificial bristles and the use of toothpaste. If mom and dad missed the moment of teaching the child to brush their teeth, then the age of 1 year - good time to develop the skill of cleaning.

There is no need to use all three types of toothbrushes. You can start using the third type or immediately switch to children's toothbrushes with bristles. If a child has pathologies in the development of the dental-jaw system, it is better to consult a pediatric dentist. He will tell you in detail and showhow to brush your child's teeth in a yearin a certain situation.

How to brush your child's teeth at 2 years old?

From the age of two, according to dentists, you can use a children's toothbrush in combination with toothpaste. If everything is clear with a brush, then how to choose a paste for a baby?

First of all, you need to pay attention to the following points:

The toothpaste should be free of abrasive substances so as not to damage the delicate mucous membrane of the child's oral cavity and the enamel of the teeth.

It is worth giving preference to toothpastes without taste or with a milky taste. They will not cause unpleasant sensations in the child, but they will not become a new delicacy for him.

The process of brushing teeth by the age of two should be clear to the child. If the kid still does not understand this procedure or he refuses to do it for some reason, you can show by your own example,how to brush your teeth... For little childit will not only be an experience, but also parent-child communication, spending time together and doing a joint activity.

How to teach a child to brush their teeth?

The best way, How to teach a child to brush their teeth, is an example of its own.Turn brushing your teeth into a fun game by gradually (as your child grows up) explaining to him that this procedure is necessary for his own health. Encourage your child after each brushing, not with candy and toys, but with words of approval.

Many parents ask the question “How to get your child to brush their teeth? ”. But this is the wrong approach to solving the problem. The child cannot be forced, so he will completely refuse to fulfill any requests. Persuading and begging a child to brush their teeth is also not worth it. Otherwise, the child will feel his power and will be simply spoiled, which will affect his future upbringing. For children need to be explainedhow to brush your teeth, why it is done and why it is so important. The carrot-and-stick method is not suitable for brushing your teeth.

We hope that after reading the article it became clear to all parentsAt what age need to start brushing your child's teeth and how to properly brush teeth for children... If you are interested in other issues of pediatric and adult dentistry, please contact "Misto Dent"! Our experts will tell you about the peculiarities of caring for a child's teeth and the prevention of diseases of the dental-jaw system.

As soon as the baby's first teeth begin to cut, parents think about how to brush their child's teeth. Do I need a special brush? Which paste to choose? These questions torment young mothers and fathers. It is worse if the parents consider brushing their teeth unnecessary. This approach to business is not only wrong, but also dangerous.

When to start brushing your child's teeth?

The question of when to start brushing a child's teeth arises for all mothers without exception. The only difference is that many parents start asking it too late.

Despite the fact that many mothers underestimate the importance of regular cleaning of the oral cavity, it is very important to do this procedure every day from the moment the baby's first tooth appears. This usually happens by 6 months, when the baby begins to receive complementary foods. During this period, 1-2 cleanings per day are enough.

Later, at 1-1.5 years old, the toddler needs to be taught to brush his teeth twice a day. If the baby is not annoyed by this procedure, you can increase the number of cleanings to three per day.

How to brush a child's teeth?

Up to a year old, you can brush your baby's teeth with a soft cloth or gauze moistened with water. There are now commercially available special rubber brushes that fit over the parent's finger and thus facilitate the cleaning process. You can purchase such a device.

It is recommended to buy a soft toothbrush for this age by the age of one year. It should not negatively affect the enamel and injure the gums. In addition to a brush for up to three years, no additional funds (toothpastes, gels) are required.

When your baby is three years old, you can start teaching him to brush his teeth on his own. Technically, it is possible, but many children at this age find it difficult to clean their teeth thoroughly and with high quality, so they need the help of their parents. Also during this period, you can introduce the baby to toothpaste.

Remember the following guidelines for oral hygiene products.

• Change your baby brush every 2-3 months.
• Choose a brush with soft bristles and a rounded head so that your baby does not inadvertently injure the oral mucosa.
• It is better to purchase a beautiful brush with an interesting design - this will help instill a child's love for oral hygiene. Now on sale you can find brushes with characters of children's cartoons, princesses and superheroes. Such bright fabulous brushes will surely please the kid.
• Don't buy fluoride paste.
• It is not necessary to use whitening pastes for the toddler, as they contain a large number of abrasives and can damage the enamel.
• Do not skimp on baby toothpaste - it is better to buy a paste that is allowed to swallow, since up to 3-4 years old, the baby does not spit out the paste badly.
• A mouthwash can only be prescribed by a dentist.
• Parabens, aggressive surfactants, dyes should not be present in baby paste.

How to choose a toothbrush for a child?

There are several secrets to help you choose the best brush for your child.

1. Do not buy natural bristle brushes, as bacteria grow on them very quickly. The consequence of using such eco-brushes will be permanent stomatitis in the baby and dental problems.
2. When buying a brush for a toddler under the age of 3, pay attention to the handle. It should be thick and strong - only such a device can hold a baby at the age of 1-3 years.
3. The bristles should be collected in "section-groups". There should be 23 and more such groups.
4. A child under 5 years old needs a very soft brush (extra-soft).
5. The length of the toothbrush head should be 18-23 mm.

Have brand Pigeon there is a whole set of brushes: one - a thimble brush - is designed for cleaning the teeth of a six-month-old baby, another is suitable for a baby of 1-2 years old, the third - the largest - will help teach a child to brush their teeth on their own.

A similar set is available from Bebe Comfort. Children's brushes from the manufacturers Rocs, Mir Detstva (Kurnosiki), Nuk, Canpol are popular.

How to properly brush the teeth of a one-year-old child?

When the baby is 1 year old, you need to use a special long-handled baby brush to clean the oral cavity.

Not everyone knows how to properly brush teeth for children. Due to the mistakes of the parents, the first teeth of the child suffer, the enamel is erased, and caries occurs. Don't make mistakes - brush your teeth correctly!

This is done as follows.

• Dampen the brush with water.
• Place the brush at a 45-degree angle and gently sweep over your baby's teeth. Movements should be made from the gums to the edge of the teeth.
• Use gentle, gentle strokes to brush off plaque. Do not crush or scratch children's teeth.
• Explain to your child why you are doing this.
• If a child tries to use a brush on their own, do not interfere. Better show how to brush your teeth properly by running your hand.
• Teach your little one to rinse their mouth with water and spit out the paste. Explain that this is very important.

In time, a child needs 2 minutes to clean the oral cavity (for an adult - 3). In order not to unnerve the child with a long procedure, buy an hourglass for 2 minutes and ask the baby to track the time of brushing his teeth using them. The toddler will be so carried away that he will not be capricious. As a last resort, you can show him short 2-minute cartoons.

How to teach your kid to brush their teeth on their own?

It happens that the baby does not want to clean his teeth on his own. In this case, it is very easy to teach a child to brush his teeth - you need to turn the cleaning process into a game. A few tips below will help you teach your baby this useful skill.

1. Buy a nice, brightly colored brush and paste that tastes good.
2. Invite your kid to play "cleaners". The one who brushed his teeth better and more diligently is entitled to a small prize. As a prize, you can watch a cartoon, a bright sticker, a useful sweetness.
3. You can let your baby brush your teeth or your toys. Sometimes it works well to watch a movie on how to properly care for your oral cavity.
4. Involve older children in the process.

As a rule, by the age of 4-5 years, all children brush their teeth on their own.

Why is it important to take care of baby teeth?

For some reason, many parents perceive the "milk" teeth of the baby as something temporary, fickle, and therefore unimportant. “All the same, they will fall out” - careless mothers shrug their shoulders when asked why so little time and effort is devoted to caring for children's teeth. Nevertheless, this position is not only wrong, but also dangerous.
Brushing a one-year-old child's teeth is very important because:

• they form the correct bite and ensure the correct growth of permanent teeth;
• they are involved in the formation of the bones of the skull, and therefore facial features;
• irregular brushing of teeth contributes to the emergence of bacteria in the oral cavity, which with food enter the child's stomach and can cause many diseases;
• improper care can contribute to the development of caries not only on "milk", but also on permanent teeth;
• early learning to take proper care of the oral cavity forms in the child a sense of neatness and respect for his health.

In addition, beautiful teeth are the undoubted pride of every person. This parameter affects whether a person will be confident in himself and open to others.

Conclusion

The cleanliness of the oral cavity is a guarantee of the health of teeth, both "milk" and permanent. If you wish a little good, do not be lazy to brush children's teeth twice a day from their very appearance. In addition, it is important to teach your baby to visit the dentist at least 1-2 times a year. This will prevent and avoid many problems in the future.

Ekaterina Morozova

Reading time: 9 minutes

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Some parents believe that they should start brushing their teeth only when there are at least 20 of them in their mouths. Others start actively brushing immediately when teething. Experts recommend starting dental care even before they appear.

And, no matter what age the first procedure for brushing teeth falls on, the main question becomes - how to instill this habit in the baby.

How to properly clean your newborn's tongue and mouth before teeth appear

It would seem, well, why does a newborn need oral hygiene - there is no teeth there yet!

Not many mothers know, but oral hygiene of an infant is a prevention of an infection that is very common in infants, which begins with reddening of the mucous membrane and swelling of the gums.

The reason for this is the banal dirt that got into the baby's mouth with an unwashed nipple, rattle, teething rattle, or even through the kisses of the parents. Milk residues in the mouth can also cause inflammation, which is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

You can save your baby not only through a responsible attitude to the cleanliness of nipples and toys, but also through oral hygiene.

Video: How to teach a child to brush their teeth and when is toothpaste needed? - Doctor Komarovsky

Experts advise to carry out oral hygiene after 2-3 months of life - 2-3 times a day.

How to do it correctly?

• After each feeding, we carry out hygiene procedures (gentle and delicate) for the tongue, gums and inner surface of the cheeks.
• We use ordinary boiled water and cheesecloth.
• We wrap sterile gauze, slightly moistened with warm boiled water, on a finger and gently wipe the areas of the oral cavity marked above.
• When the baby grows up (after the 1st month of life) it can be used instead of boiled water decoctions / herbal infusions that protect against inflammation and soothe the gums.

What is commonly used to clean an infant's mouth and tongue?

1. Sterile gauze (bandage) and boiled water.
2. Silicone finger brush (after 3-4 months).
3. Gauze and soda solution (excellent for the prevention of dental diseases). For 200 ml of boiled water - 1 tsp of soda. In case of thrush with a tampon soaked in this solution, it is recommended to treat the oral cavity for 5-10 days several times a day.
4. Chlorophyllipt solution.
5. Vitamin B12.
6. Dental wipes. They are used after the 2nd month of life. Such wipes usually contain xylitol, a component with antiseptic properties, as well as herbal extracts.

Decoctions and herbal infusions can be used to moisten a gauze swab when cleaning the oral cavity from the 2nd month of a baby's life:

• Sage: anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Kills harmful bacteria and soothes the gums.
• Chamomile: anti-inflammatory properties. Well tolerated by babies.
• St. John's wort: has a beneficial effect on the condition of the gums, contains useful vitamins and mineral salts.
• Calendula: another powerful natural antiseptic.

Cleaning milk teeth - how to properly brush your child's teeth: instructions

Teaching children how to properly brush their teeth should be done in 3 stages:

1. Up to 1 year: symbolic procedures aimed at instilling the right habit.
2. From 1 year to 3 years : working out the correct movements when brushing your teeth.
3. From 3 years old: development of skills for self-thorough cleaning.

Teeth brushing instructions for a child - how to properly clean baby teeth?

First of all, we are talking, of course, about the traditional (standard) method of brushing your teeth:

• We hold the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the surface of the teeth, without closing the jaws.
• From left to right, "sweep" the outer surface of the upper row with a brush. It is important to carry out these movements from above (from the gum) and down (to the edge of the tooth).
• We repeat the procedure for the back of the upper row of teeth.
• Then we repeat both "exercises" for the bottom row.
• Well, now we clean the chewing surface of the upper and lower rows with movements "back and forth".
• The number of movements for each side is 10-15.
• We finish the cleaning procedure with a gum massage. Namely, we close the jaws and, with gentle circular movements, massage the outer surface of the teeth together with the gums.
• It remains only to clean the tongue with the back of the brush head (as a rule, each brush has a special embossed surface for such purposes).

Video: How to brush your child's teeth?

Do not forget about the important rules for brushing your teeth (especially since they do not differ much from the rules for adults):

1. We brush our teeth twice a day - without breaks for weekends and vacations.
2. The time of one procedure is 2-3 minutes.
3. Kids brush their teeth only under the supervision of their parents.
4. The length of the strip of squeezed out pasta for crumbs up to 5 years old is 0.5 cm (approx. - about a pea).
5. After brushing, the teeth should be rinsed with warm water.
6. Given the sensitivity of children's teeth, you should not brush them too aggressively and aggressively.
7. If the baby cleans his teeth himself, then the mother will clean his teeth again after the procedure (double cleaning).

At the age of 5-7 years, the formation of permanent teeth begins and the gradual resorption of the roots from milk teeth.

It is important to note that milk teeth will fall out in the same order in which they erupted. You can speed up this process with the help of apples and carrots - we gnaw fruits, we increase the load on the teeth.

Of course, the process can be delayed. And the final change of teeth will end only by the age of 16 (wisdom teeth are an exception, they will "grow back" only by the age of 20-25). Choose soft bristled brushes during this period of tooth change.

How to teach a small child to brush their teeth - all parental secrets and rules

It is always difficult to teach children to order and hygienic procedures. A rare child himself runs with delight to brush his teeth. Unless a tooth fairy is sitting in the bathroom next to a glass of brushes.

Video: Tips for parents on how to teach a child to brush their teeth

Therefore, we read the instructions - and we remember the important secrets of experienced parents, how to teach kids to brush their teeth.

• Personal example. There is nothing better in matters of upbringing than the example of mom and dad. The whole family can brush their teeth - it's fun and healthy.
• No aggression, shouts and other "educational" aggressive methods. The child needs to be carried away by brushing his teeth. Turning the procedure into hard labor is not pedagogical. But what to captivate and how - it already depends on the parental ingenuity (but you can also use our recommendations). In addition, do not forget to praise your child and encourage zeal for the procedure.
• Sequencing. If you started to teach your child to brush your teeth, do not stop. No rewards like “okay, you don't have to clean today”! Hygiene procedures should be mandatory, no matter what.
• We buy a toothbrush for a child with him. Give him a choice of those brush options that you trust - let the child decide on the design on his own. The more he likes the brush, the more interesting it will be for him to use it. Remember that giving a child the right to choose is half the battle for a parent! But the choice should not be "to clean or not to clean", but "which brush to choose is up to you, son."
• Toy brush. Perfect option. Manufacturers do not get tired of competing in the originality of children's toothbrushes. With what "tricks" do they produce modern tools for cleaning teeth today - and with vivid images of your favorite cartoon heroes, and with toy pens, and with flashlights, and suction cups, and so on. Show the child everything and take those that will fall on his eyes. It is better to take 2-3 brushes at once: the choice is always conducive to action.
• Toothpaste. Naturally safe and of high quality, but above all delicious. For example, banana. Or chewing gum flavored. Take 2 at once - let the child have a choice here too.
• Cartoons, programs and films about tooth fairies and teeth greatly stimulate imagination and spur to brushing your teeth and forming the right habits.
• Don't forget about toys! If your child has a favorite toy, take it with you to the bathroom. In the end, if you really want to brush your teeth, then all at once. A child who takes on the role of a teacher (and the doll will definitely have to be taught to brush its teeth) immediately becomes more independent and responsible. Usually, children have favorite toys - plush ones, so buy a toothy but attractive toy in advance for such purposes so that you can safely wash it, clean it and carry out other manipulations.
• Create a tooth fairy (like Santa Claus). It's a long time to wait for the change of milk teeth, so let her arrive today (for example, once a week) and please the baby with surprises (under the pillow, of course).
• If the child has sisters or brothers, feel free to use the "competition" option. They always spur kids to heroic deeds. For example, "who is better to brush their teeth." Or who can withstand 3 minutes of brushing your teeth. Well, etc.
• Buy a beginner dentist's kit (toy). Let the child train on his toy animals while playing in the "hospital". Tie up his “bad teeth” toys with a bandage - let them sit in line to the young luminary of medicine.
• Hourglass. Choose the most original and beautiful, suction cup - for the bath. The optimal amount of sand is for 2-3 minutes of brushing your teeth. Put this watch on the sink so that the baby knows exactly when to finish the procedure.
• Making a glass for brush and paste from Lego. Why not? It will be much more fun to brush your teeth if the brush is in a bright glass, which the child independently assembled from the construction set.
• We fix the child's progress on a special board of "achievements" ... Bright stickers from mom for brushing your teeth will be a good incentive for your baby.

And be sure to visit the dentist! As soon as the toddler turns 2-3 years old, make such a good habit. Then the baby and doctors will not be afraid, and the teeth will be monitored more carefully.

Because when mom asks, you can be capricious, but the dentist uncle is already an authoritative person, you can listen to him.

When to start cleaning

Loss scheme

What teeth change

Every adult pays enough attention to brushing their own teeth, but when the teeth begin to cut in a child of the first year of life, many are lost and do not know whether babies under one year old need cleaning, how to properly clean their milk teeth and what hygiene products to choose for children.

At any age, it is important to observe oral hygiene for your baby!

Rationality of early oral hygiene

The opinion that the first teeth, called milk teeth, do not require cleaning is deeply mistaken. If you do not pay attention to the care of children's teeth, the risk of caries in babies increases many times over. This is primarily due to the lesser strength of the enamel in deciduous teeth. In addition, in the diet of young children, there are quite a lot of carbohydrates (they are found in breast milk and formula), which are a source of food for bacteria that provoke caries.

If you do not clean your teeth in time and do not remove food debris and accumulated plaque from the mouth of babies, bacteria will develop more actively and the risk of caries will increase.

To maintain the health of teeth that have not yet erupted, you need to cleanse the oral cavity from food debris in time

In addition, early manifestations of caries in the form of white spots often go unnoticed in children. The disease spreads unhindered deep into the dental tissues, and when the teeth begin to hurt, getting to know the dentist will become a serious test for the child's psyche.

Lack of cleaning and the rapid development of caries cause the loss of deciduous teeth, which threatens permanent teeth. The infection can spread to their rudiments and the newly erupted molar will have to be treated by a dentist. Teeth misalignments are also not uncommon, which at an older age will have to be corrected with plates or braces in order to avoid ridicule from peers and problems with chewing. As you can see, the importance of bite hygiene is really great.

For the correct formation of the bite, it is important to maintain the health of milk teeth as long as possible.

When and at what age is it better to start brushing your teeth?

The age period in which a particular child needs to start cleaning their teeth will be individual for each baby, because teeth erupt in different children in different ways. The general recommendation for all children is to start brushing their teeth from the moment when the first incisor has "hatched".

In most babies, this occurs at the age of 6-8 months, but in some children, the first tooth can erupt even at 3-4 months, and for some, the moment the first tooth appears at 11-12 months.

Since almost all babies have at least one tooth by the age of one, the question "is it necessary to brush the teeth of a one-year-old child?" has only one answer - "necessarily".

The sooner the baby learns to brush his teeth, the healthier they will be.

It is important to take into account that at the time of eruption, the local immunity in the mouth of the crumbs decreases, and the inflamed gum reacts rather painfully to contact with any objects. So you need to clean the cutting teeth very carefully.

Some dentists insist on more early start cleaning the oral cavity of children - even before the eruption of the first tooth. They explain this by the ingress of milk and complementary foods into the baby's mouth, as a result of which microorganisms accumulate on the mucous membrane, even in the absence of teeth. In their opinion, it is necessary to start caring for the gums from the age of three to four months. This will help develop the habit of taking care of your baby's teeth. In addition, babies at this age do not react negatively to the brush.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky regarding at what age to start brushing your baby's teeth, see the video:

How to clean properly?

If the baby has not yet developed a single tooth, brushing is just rubbing the tongue and gums. The very first teeth are also simply rubbed, since even using the softest brush will be painful for the crumbs. To wipe your baby's teeth, you can use:

• A piece of bandage or gauze dipped in boiled water.
• Toothbrush napkins.
• Dental napkins "Spiffies".

The water that is moistened with gauze can be slightly salted. Cotton wool is not used for wiping, since this is not a sufficiently rough material, which, moreover, can leave fibers in the baby's mouth.

Special wipes for wiping the mouth of children are soaked xylitol, which is a safe antiseptic. They protect the oral cavity from thrush and caries, relieve pain. Napkins can be unflavored or have a pleasant minty, banana, apple, or grape flavor. The only disadvantage of such wipes is their high cost, since they are disposable.

From the age of 6 months, when the push-out reflex has disappeared, they begin to use either a silicone fingertip or a classic brush in a children's version - with a short handle and soft bristles, as well as a small cleaning surface, for cleaning. Most often a brush worn on a finger is used until one year of age, and a regular brush is bought for children over one year old.

For babies, teeth and gums are cleaned with a silicone fingertip

In order for the little one to learn how to clean their teeth correctly, you should act gradually:

• At 6-8 months of age the baby is introduced to the brush and allowed to get used to using it.
• Between the ages of 8 and 12 months the child is shown the correct movements when brushing their teeth.
• From 1 year to 3 years of age the baby is taught to thoroughly brush his teeth.

The frequency of brushing your child's teeth is twice a day. At the same time, evening cleansing performed before bed is more important than that carried out in the morning, so it should not be forgotten. The duration of each procedure is about 2-3 minutes, although the first cleanings may be shorter, while the baby gets used to the manipulation.

Follow these rules:

1. The brush should be at a 45 ° angle to the child's teeth.
2. The movement of the brush should be in the direction from the gums to the incisal edge.
3. Cleaning should be done on both the inside and outside of each tooth.
4. To clean the chewing surface, translational circular movements are used.
5. At the end of the procedure, the tongue is cleaned with the back of the brush.

The procedure for brushing the teeth of the baby is clearly demonstrated in the video from the channel MJmelka:

At what age can a baby brush his own teeth?

Invite your child to pick up a brush and try to brush their teeth on their own from the age of one. Please note that at the age of up to three years, the child is not yet able to clean his teeth properly, therefore, after his attempts to clean himself, the parents will have to additionally brush the teeth of the baby again. However, it is important to maintain the little one’s desire to brush his teeth himself.

How to teach a child to brush their teeth on their own?

Teaching children to use a toothbrush is best done by their parents' own example, because kids love to imitate the actions of adults.

A mirror can also help with learning. so give your child the opportunity to look at their reflection while brushing. So the baby will be able to better control their actions and observe the movements of the brush in the mouth.

Tell and show your kid that you need to brush your teeth with toothpaste in this way:

1. Rinse your mouth with warm water before the procedure.
2. Squeeze some toothpaste (no more than a pea) onto the brush.
3. Brush the outer, chewing and inner surfaces of all teeth.
4. Rub your tongue with a brush.
5. Rinse your mouth well with warm water.
6. Rinse the brush under the tap and place it head up in a glass.

What if the baby refuses to brush his teeth?

Many children at first have a negative attitude to the toothbrush, as it is a foreign object that can cause discomfort for the baby. If the child is badly disposed towards brushing teeth, you should not give up trying to accustom the baby to oral hygiene.

Invite your baby to brush her teeth every day. Also, try cleaning with different brushes and different pastes.

To keep your baby interested, brushing your teeth can be made more interesting:

• While the baby is brushing her teeth, sing a song or read a poem.
• Make the cleaning a "secret task" during which the child fights the caries bacteria.
• Take your favorite toy with you to the bathroom.
• Arrange a brushing speed competition in which the parents, of course, will succumb.
• Turn on the program on the phone, in which the funny hero will brush his teeth with the child.