How to Brush Baby Teeth?
It is vital to ensure your children are receiving fluoride protection. The best way to get it is to use fluoride toothpaste when your baby first erupts their teeth. The fluoride helps in lowering the risk of decay and making tooth enamel strong, ensuring good oral health,
You must try teaching the baby to brushing teeth till they are old enough to hold the toothbrush and clean the teeth correctly. It is mainly when they reach the age of 6.
As you know, baby teeth with decay result in poor speech development and nutrition. If the teeth come out, they fail to hold a proper position for permanent ones, resulting in crookedness.
Do Babies Need Fluoride Toothpaste?
Yes. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise fluoride toothpaste for toddlers and babies.
As you know, cavities are a common issue in children. So, to keep your baby’s teeth cavity-free and healthy, it is essential to use a toothpaste containing fluoride. Babies have an outer layer on their teeth known as enamel. It offers protection from harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Tooth decay damages the enamel. Fluoride offers complete protection from delta caries by making enamel strong. It is crucial to use the right amount of fluoridated paste depending on their age. Otherwise, they could swallow it. If you still have some confusion about how much paste is safe to use for your baby, contact our family dentist today.
AAPD suggests using cavity-preventing fluoride toothpaste starting with the first tooth instead of waiting until age 2. Try using a paste of rice-grain size for your little one.
How to Brush Your Baby’s Teeth?
Brushing your baby teeth is a team effort. Never let your little one brush without any supervision or use the paste on their own. You can start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as his/her tooth erupts through the gums.
The following steps help you keep the mouth clean of your toddler:
a) Gently wipe the gums with a soft and damp cloth.
b) Start brushing using a kid-sized soft brush moistened with water and a tiny amount of toothpaste (rice-grain size) once the first teeth erupt. It will spread the fluoride onto the entire mouth without allowing your little one to swallow much. You can even try finger brushing to wipe the first teeth and the front part of the tongue at night.
c) You can use a pea-sized paste when your kid gets better at spitting (turns 3).
d) Continue helping your baby till he enters the age of 5 or 6.
What to Do When the Baby Hates Brushing?
Not every baby love getting his/her teeth cleaned. Also, when a baby is teething, the gums become soft and swollen. Follow these tips if bruising is a struggle for you:
1. Be Gentle
If your baby does not like to brush, always clean the teeth using a soft washcloth. As you know, the gums of your little one is sensitive. So, try to be gentle so that it doesn’t hurt your baby.
2. Sing a Lovely Song
You can even try singing a favorite song of your baby while cleaning your teeth. It is also an excellent way to make toothbrushing easy.
3. Give a Demo
Show your little one how to do it. By seeing a mother or dad brushing, he/she will surely enjoy it while learning the correct way. It also prevents your baby from swallowing a large amount of paste, preventing tooth enamel damage and dental fluorosis.
4. Motivate with Play
Motivate the interest of your little one in brushing teeth by letting him/her hold the toothbrush and do it at own speed. Allow your kid to see how you take good care of your teeth so that he/she continues this habit for a lifetime. You can even try a fun toothbrush with the bright shade and favorite character of your baby.
Other Method Your Kids Can Take Fluoride
Schedule your appointment for fluoride treatment at our Bolton dental office – South Hill Dental to lower the chance of cavities. It is another way your children can receive fluoride. Kids’ fluoride treatment usually coats the teeth to strengthen the tooth enamel.