Brushing your baby’s teeth:
How can you ensure your child’s dental health?
How to brush baby's teeth? An essential question as a parent, given the importance of maintaining healthy oral hygiene in your child. To answer this, many parameters must be taken into account: baby's teeth are not brushed in the same way depending on his age, and major habits must be adopted for his dental health. We give you all the necessary information in this article.
Baby teeth care: a health priority
Brushing baby's teeth: why is it so important?
Brushing your teeth is essential, whether you are a child or an adult.
Thus, it is a habit that must be adopted from birth:educating your baby to brush their teeth is a must, given that their dental health is essential for their proper development. For baby to be able to speak, eat and chew the food he needs to grow well,he absolutely must have healthy teeth and gums.
Therefore, even before the first teeth appear, you must get baby used to it by washing his mouth regularly.
Brushing baby's teeth: what are the good habits to adopt?
In order to avoid any risk concerning the health of baby's teeth, it is important to take into account the risk factors that can increase the appearance of cavities or any other dental problem.
For this, here are our tips:
- Make an appointment with the dentist at least once a year from the baby's 18 months;
- Avoid giving him too many sugary bottles of milk or juice;
- Don't use the same spoon to taste his meal and feed him;
- Watch what baby puts in his mouth to prevent him from ingesting bacteria;
- Have baby adopt a balanced diet;
- Brush your teeth every day.
Brushing baby’s teeth: which toothbrush and toothpaste?
In order for baby's teeth to be brushed as well as possible, it is important to choose the right toothpaste and toothbrush.
Choosing the right baby toothbrush
Before baby is one year old, there is no need to include a toothbrush in the brushing routine: a simple cleaning with a damp compress will suffice.
It is as you grow that brushing your teeth will really take place, generally from the age of one, with a small toothbrush with soft bristles s. His gums are still sensitive, it is important to favor an all-purpose brush, which will clean baby's mouth gently, without hurting him. Obviously, it will be necessary to change the baby's toothbrush regularly for optimal hygiene.
Choose the right baby toothpaste
Before the child is 2 years old, it is advisable to brush baby's teeth simply with water according to the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD). Once your child is between 2 and 3 years old, toothpaste can be integrated into their toothbrushing routine. Above all, you must opt fora toothpaste with a pleasant and non-aggressive taste.
The most important parameter to take into account will be the amount of fluoride present in the toothpaste you use for your child, which plays a decisive role in preventing and reducing cavities and strengthening enamel.
Between 2 and 3 years old, a tooth ifrice with a concentration of fluoride less or equal to 500 parts per million (ppm) is recommended.
From the age of three babies, opt for a 500 ppm fluoride toothpaste.
Once the baby has passed the age of 6 years, you can favor a fluoridated toothpaste between 1,000 and 1,500 ppm.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask your pediatrician for advice.
The process of brushing teeth from birth to age 6
Ensuring baby's oral hygiene from birth
From birth on baby, it is important to ensure his hygiene after his bottle or breastfeeding to remove the plaque of bacteria. Gently clean the gums and mouth with a compress or damp cloth.
Baby's first teeth: brushing rules
When baby's first teeth pierce the gums, he should brush his teeth twice a day, evening brushing being particularly important. Always make sure that brushing is done gently so as not to bleed your child's gums. Be careful to clean all the baby's mouth areas with the appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste, to remove dental plaque and minimize the risk of cavities. For reasons of hygiene, it is also essential to leave the toothbrush to rest in the open air after use, and in a pot separate from that of the toothbrushes of the older children.
What to do when your child is old enough to brush their teeth alone?
As your child grows up, he will acquire more independence in his actions and gestures, and brushing his teeth is inevitably part of this. From the age of 5-6, it will then be necessary to accompany and guide him to show him the gestures to adopt for him to have optimal oral health. And to make brushing your teeth less daunting, don't hesitate to make this activity fun for your child by buying them a colored toothbrush or quality toothpaste with attractive packaging.