Is Your Child Using the Right Toothbrush? 5 Tips for Your Child’s Healthy Teeth

Welcome to the 21^st century. You enter a supermarket to buy a toothbrush for your child and are faced with a plethora of options to pick from! How is a parent to decide which one is best?

Turns out most parents will look for the cutest toothbrush when in truth, that might hardly be the one to inculcate the best habits in oral care for a little child, whilst also performing well enough to clean that little mouth thoroughly. This is simply because most people believe that all toothbrushes work exactly the same. We’re here to tell you that’s not true and help you find the right one for your child.

So, let’s look at some tips to help you make a decision that might save you tons of money at the dentist in the future! Ready?

Is Your Child Using the Right Toothbrush?

Kids’ toothbrushes come in various size and shapes, and designs, making it difficult for a parent to pick one. If your child doesn’t quite love to brush their teeth, one of the reasons could be that the experience has been a little painful or uncomfortable for them. It’s up to you to change that bad experience into a good one.

Buying the right toothbrush will make the process of brushing teeth exciting for your little one, especially if you let them pick the colour out! But first, let’s talk parent to parent. First, you understand the features that will work best for your child’s needs. This is sure to lead you to the best choice.

1. Consider the size of the brush.

One size doesn’t fit all; the same stands true for kids’ toothbrushes. Your little one’s toothbrush should fit comfortably in their mouth, and it should be easy for them to hold on to and manoeuvre. A brush with a small brush head will make it easy for them (or you) to clean the entire surface of the teeth. Oral-B’s Power Oral Care toothbrush has a small round shape, which can reach the hard-to-reach surfaces such as the sides of the molars and offer better cleaning. What’s more? Your child will develop the habit of brushing their teeth daily using this attractive toothbrush!

2. Look for a brush with soft bristles.

Bristles are the most important thing you need to account for while buying a brush for your little one. Using a brush with soft bristles will make oral care routine a breeze for your child. Oral-B’s Power Oral Care Toothbrushes have soft bristles and water-resistant handles, which make it convenient for parents to clean their child’s teeth and gums. If your child is above three years of age, brushing their teeth and gums will help you take care of their oral health from early on. You simply have to manoeuvre the brush and let it work its magic, but be sure to reach all surfaces of the teeth and gums! In fact, you could make a game out of it!

3. Let your child pick their own colour.

Kids love to mimic grown-ups and chances are your child has seen you reading labels and putting things in your cart! Let them cruise down the toothbrush aisle and pick out their favourite brush. Then read up on the brush and see if it fits the criteria. If it doesn’t, pick out a few options that do work, and ask your child to pick again! Oral-B’s Electric toothbrushes for kids come in attractive kid-friendly colours and prints, so this shouldn’t be too hard for you. Your child is sure to find their favourite one in no time and will probably want to rush home to use it right away!

Now for the tougher part. Your child has found their perfect toothbrush, but how do you get them to form the habit of brushing correctly?

5 Tips to Ensure Your Child’s Teeth Stay Healthy

The only way to keep your little one from getting tooth decay and gum disease is by taking care of their dental health from early on. If you’re concerned about your child’s dental hygiene, follow these tips to care for their teeth.

1. Teach Them How to Brush the Teeth

If your child is not a fan of brushing their teeth, they might rush through their oral routine, and end up brushing their teeth vigorously and hurting their gums in the process. It may also cause abrasion over some time. So teach them to brush their teeth the right way, gently and thoroughly, taking their time.

If your little one is too young to do it on their own, you can brush their teeth gently in small circles. If they are old enough to do it on their own, then teach them to hold the brush at a 45° angle toward the gum line and move it back and forth in a circular movement. You can get them an electric toothbrush to make the entire process easier. Oral-B’s Kids’ Power Oral Care Toothbrush, designed for kids aged three years and above, has a sensitive brush head and soft bristles that are gentle on gums. The electric toothbrush uses just the right pressure as it oscillates on the teeth, giving each tooth the cleaning, it deserves.

2. Inculcate Good Habits From Early On

Habits developed early last long – this applies for developing the habit of brushing teeth as well. Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth as soon as they appear and even earlier (by cleaning the gums with a soft washcloth). If your child is old enough to brush on their own and understands why maintaining oral hygiene is essential, help them develop the habit of brushing teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime, and for no less than 2 minutes. Luckily, the Oral-B Kids’ Electric Toothbrush also has a 2-minute timer, so your little one knows how long to keep going.

 3. Use the Right Toothpaste and in the Right Amount

In order to maintain your child’s dental hygiene, you will need a good toothpaste too. Pick a toothpaste with fluoride in it as it helps fight dental caries and cavities (but use it sparingly as too much of fluoride can cause discolouration). As per the new update by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), fluoride toothpaste can be used for little ones as soon as their first tooth erupts, but the amount of toothpaste used should not be more than a smear or the size of a grain. For kids between the ages of 3 and 6 years, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is recommended. And for older kids, a ribbon-sized amount should be used, spreading it along the length of the toothbrush. Keep in mind your child’s age and use the toothpaste accordingly.

4. Limit These Foods in Your Child’s Diet

Try and limit your child’s consumption of juices, sugary foods, sweets, and candies as consumption of these foods and drinks lead to tooth decay. It is better to avoid them, but it’s easier said than done. So, cut back on these foods from their daily menu. But if your little one has sugary foods or drinks at times (which they will just like kids their age!), have them rinse their mouth or brush the teeth!  

5. Prioritise Dental Check-ups

Don’t wait for a dental problem to occur to take your child to a dentist. We will only remind you about what you already know – prevention is better than cure, so make dental check-ups a priority. A child should see their dentist by their first birthday. Whether your little one is below 1 year of age, a toddler or school-going kid, take them for dental check-ups every 3 months to once a year. These visits can help in the detection of tooth caries, cavities, and other dental problems, and help the dentist provide a cure for the same.

Your child’s dental health is as important as their physical health. While getting your child to brush their teeth can be a challenge, but with the above tips and the right tools, we are sure you will manage to develop the healthy habit of brushing teeth in your child from early on and maintain proper dental hygiene!

Also Read:

Tooth Decay in Kids
Yellow and Other Discoloration of Teeth in Kids
Common Teeth Problems in Kids and Their Solutions