Toothbrushing Technique for Children
It is good idea to establish a daily routine for cleaning a child's teeth as soon as the teeth appear. We find that imitation is the best way to teach your children. If they see you brushing regularly then mostly they will want to do the same. When they are babies they will want to chew a brush, this does not hurt & can provide some brushing action for the back teeth when they erupt, but you will use a lot of childrens toothbrushes. At this stage just brush over the teeth with water no toothpaste required.
As they get older & more teeth come through and they are able to spit out then use a very small smear of low fluoride (childrens) toothpaste. Follow the general technique as for adults except this is the time that emphasis should be given to the biting surfaces of the teeth as opposed to the inner & outer surfaces. Really, the younger they are the shorter the time available for brushing. Sometimes 30 seconds is all you may have. Therefore priorities should be given when brushing childrens teeth as follows:
Biting surfaces of baby molars, & then 6 year old permanent molars, as this is where we most commonly find decay.
Outer & inner surfaces of baby molars, as between these molars is also still a common area for decay.
Last of all the front teeth as we find decay here much less likely than in other areas.
Plaque disclosing solutions show the child the areas that they are missing by highlighting the plaque remaining after brushing, and are a good follow up every 6 months to make sure that all plaque is being removed. Toothbrushing should become a routine for the children, just like washing their hands. Try not to make it an emotional issue between parents and child and approach it as a normal part of their routine. We strongly advise parents take control of their childs brushing once per day to reinforce the above techniques, at least until 6 years & often until 8. This is much better than the alternative (fillings), & unfortunately children do not have the concept of what will happen to their teeth if they are cleaned poorly.
Children should first attend the dentist at 4 or 5 years of age and then on the recommendation of your dentist. If they have a low decay incidence then every 12 months is usually sufficient. If you have any other queries then please contact us at mdt dental surgery, via email advice@dentalcareproducts.com.au or via phone (+612) 9908 3466. |
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