It has already been proven that electric toothbrushes are better at cleaning teeth than conventional ones. This is especially important for children who do not like this activity very much. But before buying such a device, it is important to know about the features of its choice.
| Model | Number of pulsations in min | Nozzles included | Power supply | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B Kids Mickey Mouse | 5600 | 1 | battery | |
| Hapica Kids | - | 1 | batteries | |
| Oral-B Kids Vitality | 7000 | 1 | battery | |
| CS Medica CS-561 Kids | 16000 | 2 | batteries | |
| Colgate spongebob | - | 1 | batteries |
Features of the selected models
You can buy a children's electric toothbrush from the age of three. It is at this age that interest in oral hygiene is gradually lost and the process itself begins to occur carelessly.
Toothbrush manufacturers take into account the thinness and fragility of children's enamel, so all hairs have rounded tips. However, the structure of the bristles makes it possible to thoroughly clean the chewing surface.
With regular use, the hair color will become lighter in 3-4 months. This will tell you that it's time to change the tip.
All toothbrushes are safe for the child, because the batteries are in a waterproof case.
In addition, the stylish bright design attracts the child's attention, helps to overcome fears and makes the cleaning process not only high-quality, but also interesting.
Advantages and disadvantages
Children's toothbrushes have the following strengths:
- It does not depend on the skill of the user, so it is easy for a child to brush his teeth with high quality.
- Such devices can help overcome the fear of the dentist.
- Removes dental and bacterial plaque, reduces gum inflammation.
- Reduces toothpaste consumption. Some models allow you to completely abandon it.
- With several replaceable attachments, the brush can be used by several people.
- Modern devices are available with gum pressure sensors, which is also absolutely safe for children.
- Ultrasound will not heat the surrounding tissue above 1 degree. This allows the brush to be used for a long time.
But you can use such a device only after consulting a doctor.
What to look for when choosing
When buying a brush for your baby, be sure to consider the following characteristics:
- Type of device for cleaning teeth: electric, sonic, ultrasonic.
- The stiffness of the bristles. It should be soft and low.
- The reliability of the manufacturer.
- Recommended for what age. This information can be found on the packaging.
- Availability of additional features: timers, sensors.
- Brush design. The child should like the device.
Parents must show how to use the appliance for the first time.
Oral-B Kids Mickey Mouse
An electric toothbrush is a product that is designed to clean the oral cavity and can be used for children from three years... This device removes plaque, bacteria and food debris and is gentle on teeth and gums. In one minute of operation, the toothbrush performs 5600 directional movements and 7600 pulsations... Power consumption during operation does not exceed 0.9 watts... Built in timer will help the child to control the time of cleaning the oral cavity. Included Braun Oral-B Kids Mickey Mouse D10.513K supplied one nozzle, handle and charging base... On the case of the model, everyone's favorite Disney characters... The electric toothbrush is powered by a small battery to be charged within 16 hours. The energy of this source is enough for 30 minutes of battery life... The head of the main nozzle is round. Product weight is only 130 gram, and its dimensions are 200x30x35 mm.
It has motivating melody, which helps children to brush their teeth longer and better, bringing the process time to two minutes. It is during this amount of time that dentists recommend brushing your teeth.
Instrument body made of waterproof material, which allows you to safely use the product even in high humidity conditions.
Pros:
- Type: regular, for children.
- Power supply: battery.
- Battery life is 30 minutes.
- Charging time is 16 hours.
- Maximum speed: 5600 directional movements per minute.
- Timer.
- Stand.
- Movement type - Reciprocating.
- Wear indication.
- Fits all Oral-B chargers and brushes.
- Beautiful design.
Minuses:
- Nozzles included: 1.
- No tooth pressure sensor.
- No display.
- There is no charge indicator and wear indicator.
- The set lacks: storage space for attachments and a case for storage and transportation.
- The model is not repairable.
- Relatively expensive attachments.
- The timer melody is too low and too short.
User's overview of this brush:
Hapica Kids
Brand name Hapica owned by a Japanese company Minimum corporation... For almost 30 years they have been producing only toothbrushes and for almost all 30 years Hapica was only available to Japanese consumers.
The main idea carried by Minimum Corporation through its products - it is the highest quality and most effective product with minimal costs. Expensive packaging, multi-page instructions, LCD display, dozens of modes and multi-colored LEDs - all of this was abandoned to create a high-quality and inexpensive product... Only the essentials and nothing more.
Hapica Kids DBK-1- children's electric toothbrush for children from 3 to 10 years old. Toothbrush Hapica Kids has soft bristles, the size of the head of the nozzle is 65% smaller than a standard brush, provides the child with comfort when brushing teeth, even during the period of changing milk teeth to molars. The Japanese School Health Society has recommended this brush for over 10 years in a row.
7000 micro vibrations of bristles by patented technology Hapi-Sonic comparable in efficiency to much more expensive toothbrushes with 31,000 vibrations per minute.
6 types of attachments for all occasions: ionic, for the prevention of periodontal diseases, for braces and implants, for children from one to three years, for children from three to ten years old, of different softness and types of bristles. All attachments Hapica suitable for any brush Hapica.
Hapica brushes are very light and quiet... The weight of the brush is only 58 g. The noise level during operation is 47 dB, which corresponds to the noise level of a quiet conversation.
One AA battery(finger) provides the brush for more than three months in the daily brushing mode for three minutes twice a day.
Safety and tightness confirmed by the strictest requirements of the Japanese standard JIS 6. All materials used in the manufacture of the brush Hapica are completely safe for humans.
The brush is sold in three colors: blue, yellow and pink.
Pros:
- Powered by 2 AA batteries.
- Body material - plastic.
- 7000 bristle movements per minute.
- Device weight - 58 g.
- Made in Japan.
- Bristle stiffness: Soft.
- Age group: from 3 to 10 years old.
- Working time 300 minutes.
- Main nozzle shape: elongated.
- No need for a paste, as natural foam is generated during cleaning.
- The price / quality ratio is good.
- There are stickers included.
- Different colors.
- Easy to use.
Minuses:
- The electric toothbrush is not intended for children under 3 years of age.
- There are no markers.
- The whitening pad is missing.
- There is no delicate cleaning mode, massage mode and whitening mode.
- There is no addictive function.
- No tooth pressure sensor.
- No display.
- No wear indicator.
- There is no timer.
Video review of the same type of toothbrush:
Oral-B Kids Vitality
Oral-B Is the # 1 brand of toothbrushes used by most of the world's dentists. (based on international P&G surveys among a representative sample of dentists, conducted regularly, including 2013-2015). Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque compared to manual toothbrushes. Oral-B Kids Vitality It has 2D cleaning technology and commits 7000 reciprocating movements per minute... Bright design with Disney characters makes cleaning a pleasure. Includes extra soft short bristle attachment Oral-B Kids. Compatible with the free app from Disney - Magic Timer... The application allows you to create an individual profile with your favorite characters from Disney... Has a visual game timer (motivating children to brush their teeth for the recommended two minutes), as well as a reward system for regular brushing and fearless visits to the doctor. Rewards are stored as pictures in the virtual album of achievements. Blue Bristles Indicator are half discolored, signaling the need to replace the brush head (for consistently excellent results, change the brush head every 3 months). Suitable for children from 3 years old. Made in Germany.
Pros:
- Type: regular, for children.
- Power supply: battery, operating time 30 minutes, charging time 5 hours.
- Main nozzle shape: round.
- Maximum speed: 7000 pulsations per minute.
- Timer.
- Indication: wear of the brush bristles.
- Bright design with your favorite characters.
- Easy to use.
Minuses:
- Operating modes: 1: standard.
- Nozzles included: 1.
- The electric toothbrush is not intended for children under 3 years of age.
- There are no markers.
- The whitening pad is missing.
- There is no delicate cleaning mode, massage mode and whitening mode.
- There is no addictive function.
- No tooth pressure sensor.
- No display.
- There is no charging indicator.
- The set lacks: a stand, storage space for attachments and a case for storage and transportation.
CS Medica CS-561 Kids
The electric toothbrush CS Medica CS-561 Kids specially designed for kids, which is why she has such bright and unusual design... This model uses advanced technology to generate sound frequencies, which in turn generate vibrations that effectively remove plaque. The recommended age for using this toothbrush is 1-5 years old... Soft bristles are gentle on teeth without damaging enamel and gums. So that the process of brushing your teeth does not seem boring, manufacturers equipped the device with a backlight nozzle.
Intermediate timer help you comply with the guidelines recommended by the dental association. Every 30 seconds the brush pauses for a moment, thereby suggesting that it is necessary to move on to cleaning the next segment of the oral cavity. After turning on the brush switches off automatically after two minutes... If necessary, the cleaning procedure can be continued by turning the power back on.
Minuses:
- There are no markers.
- The whitening pad is missing.
- There is no delicate cleaning mode, massage mode and whitening mode.
- There is no addictive function.
- No tooth pressure sensor.
- No display.
- No wear indicator.
- The set lacks: a stand, storage space for attachments and a case for storage and transportation.
Overview of these brushes from the user:
Colgate spongebob
The electric toothbrush Colgate SPONGE BOB perfect for your child. Recommended for children from 3 years old. Cleans better and more efficiently than a regular toothbrush. Small vibrating head with very soft bristles (non-replaceable) do not injure enamel, well clean teeth from food debris. Fine brush handle it is very comfortable to hold in a small palm, and convenient on and off buttons will allow your baby to control it independently. Colorful toy design handles in the form of a funny cartoon character will turn a boring procedure of brushing your teeth into a fun game. The brush is powered by 2 AAA batteries (included).
Ekaterina Morozova
Reading time: 14 minutes
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The importance of proper oral care cannot be overstated, especially when it comes to babies. The health of the teeth and gums of the crumbs, including those teeth that have not yet erupted, directly depends on competent oral hygiene.
When to start hygiene procedures, and what will you indispensable?
When it is necessary to start brushing the tongue and teeth of a child - we determine with age in terms of oral hygiene
As you know, bacteria in the oral cavity can multiply in a completely toothless mouth, therefore, parents should raise oral hygiene issues much earlier than they erupt and the more the first teeth grow.
- For a child under 6 months of age of course, nothing needs to be cleaned. It is enough to wipe the tongue, gums and mouth with clean gauze wrapped around your finger.
- After the appearance of the first teeth (from 6-7 months) - again, we wipe the gums with gauze.
- Further, from 10 months , there is a silicone fingertip, which is used to clean the already strengthened first teeth twice a day. You can even use a paste, but - without fluoride.
- Well, and the next stage (from 12 months) - this is the transition to a children's toothbrush.
- From 3 years old the child should already be able to use the brush independently.
Oral hygiene during the teething period of a child
Each baby has its own time for the first teething teeth. For one, this happens already at 4 months, for another - only after 7, or even by 1 year of life.
Is it necessary to clean barely erupted teeth, and how to care for the oral cavity during this delicate period?
The basic rules of hygiene for the period of teething are reduced to simple recommendations that will allow you to ease the pain of the little one - and prevent infection:
- Remove saliva regularly with a clean absorbent cloth / towel to avoid irritation on the child's face.
- Be sure to give your child items that you can chew ... Naturally, clean (before use, disinfect, pour over with boiling water).
- We do not use teething rings with liquid inside (note - they can burst) and frozen in the freezer (they can damage the gums). For the desired effect, it is enough to hold the rings for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Massage the gum crumbs with a clean finger.
- Be sure to wipe your gums and mouth after eating with gauze dipped in a solution with anti-inflammatory properties. It is recommended to consult a doctor regarding the choice of such a remedy.
Remember that during the period of teething, there is a decrease in local immunity in the crumbs - and therefore, an increase in the risk of "catching" an infection.
The gums are already inflamed these days, so do not abuse additional manipulations that can lead to painful sensations for the baby.
The first toothbrushes, toothpastes - what is necessary for cleaning the teeth and oral cavity of a small child
For each age category - its own tools for oral hygiene.
In addition, both the means and technologies can change depending on whether the baby has milk teeth or whether they have already begun to be replaced with permanent ones.
Of course, you can just look at the labeling of the packaging in the store - but, as a rule, the manufacturer's recommendations are very extensive ("from 1 to 7 years"), so it is better to choose a brush for your child individually.
Fingertip for cleaning gums and first teeth - the first toddler's toothbrush
The first child's toothbrush is usually a fingertip, which is a silicone "cap" with a soft silicone bristle that is put on the mother's finger.
This brush will not scratch children's delicate gums, improve blood circulation and provide an easy gum massage.
There are no dangerous components in fingertips, and it is easier to take care of them.
What do you need to know?
- The wear of the brush occurs in 1-2 months due to active itching of the gums in babies at this age.
- The brush should be changed according to the instructions. And not only for hygiene reasons, but also because of the risk of getting pieces of silicone from the brush into the respiratory tract.
- At the slightest sign of impaired brush integrity, it should be replaced with a new one.
- The duration of brushing with a fingertip is longer than that of standard brushing: overall, the procedure takes about 4 minutes.
Video: How to brush teeth for children with a fingertip?
Criteria for choosing the first toothbrush for baby teeth
The first children's toothbrush is more than just a bright toothbrush with a toy on a cap and a suction cup.
First of all, the brush must meet all the requirements for this item - considering that a small child will use it.
Video: Baby's first teeth. Baby's first toothbrush
So, the main selection criteria:
- High quality plastic (ask the seller for a certificate).
- Rigidity. For the first brush, choose the softest or ultra-soft bristles. Medium-hard bristles will be needed from 3 years old.
- Natural or synthetic? It is highly discouraged to choose a brush with natural bristles for a child - it is much inferior to the synthetic version in terms of wear resistance and the rate of growth of bacteria on the surface. Natural bristles provide a very fast growth of bacteria, and regular sterilization quickly renders the brush unusable. Among the novelties of recent years, one can distinguish bamboo bristles. Its service life is only 1 year, and without good drying, fungus quickly forms on the brush. And one more option - silicone bristles, but this option is suitable only for periods "to the teeth" and for the period of teething (up to 1 year). Synthetic bristles remain ideal.
- Length of bristles. For babies over 1 year old, its length should be about 11 mm. However, you can also choose a multi-level bristle with a V-shaped arrangement of synthetic bristles for ideal cleaning of rare teeth with serious gaps.
- A pen. It should have rubber anti-slip inserts and a flexible connection to the head. As for the length, the handle should not be too long, but it should still be optimal for the child's cam. From 2-5 years old, the handle length can reach 15 cm.
- Head size. For a one-year-old baby, the size of the brush head should not exceed 15 mm. And in order to orient yourself more accurately, look into the baby's mouth: the length of the brush head should be equal to the length of 2-3 baby's teeth. From 2 years old, you can look for a brush with a head up to 20 mm. The shape of the brush head must be streamlined and smooth (so that there are no corners, burrs and scratches).
- The presence of a rubber brush for the baby tongue on the back of the brush.
- As for the design - it all depends on the mother and the baby himself. Let him choose the design of the brush himself - then you will not have to persuade the child to brush his teeth.
Video: How to start brushing your child's teeth? - Doctor Komarovsky
Electric toothbrush for kids - worth it or not?
Today manufacturers offer electric brushes for babies from one year old.
What do you need to know about them?
- The optimal age for a child to use such a brush is over 5 years old. Otherwise, the procedure will become a serious burden for a small child's hand (the brush is quite heavy).
- Under the age of 5 it is not recommended to use this brush more than 1 time a week in order to avoid injury to the enamel.
Video: We brush our teeth correctly!
How to choose the right toothpaste for baby teeth?
An illiterately chosen paste can greatly harm the health of the baby in general - and his teeth in particular.
What to focus on?
- For babies up to 3 years old. Pastes for this age should not contain fluoride at all.
- For kids 3-4 years old. The content of fluorine in pastes should not exceed 200 ppm, and abrasive (approx. - RDA) - 20 units. There must be an inscription about the safety of the paste when swallowing it (as for any paste "from 0 to 4").
- For kids 4-8 years old. In these pastes, the abrasiveness can reach 50 units, and the fluoride content is 500 ppm (but no more!). The paste may have anti-inflammatory properties and contain appropriate herbal ingredients. From the age of 6, you can add dental floss to the toothbrush, which also needs to be taught to the baby to use.
- For children 8-14 years old. These pastes can already contain up to 1400 ppm of fluorine, but abrasive - no more than 50.
- From the age of 14 children can already use traditional varieties of adult toothpaste.
Components of children's toothpastes: what else do you need to know about children's toothpastes?
- Titanium dioxide or silicon dioxide can be used as abrasives, which are softer on enamel in comparison with calcium and sodium carbonate.
- Pass by baby pastes with antibacterial additives such as chlorhexidine, triclosan or metronidazole.
- As for the foaming component, it is better to choose a paste without it at all - SLS (sulfates) are harmful even for an adult body. Among the sulfate-free toothpastes, the brands Weleda, Rocks, Splat, Natura Siberica, etc. can be noted.
- Only natural ingredients - pectins - should be used as thickeners.
Video: How to choose a toothbrush and toothpaste for a child? - Doctor Komarovsky
Does my child need a mouthwash?
Should or shouldn't it be worth buying a mouthwash for a small child?
This tool will be very useful and effective if ...
- The child has already reached the age of 6.
- The child knows how to rinse his mouth and spit out the contents so as not to swallow any liquid in his mouth.
- The rinse aid does not contain any harmful components.
- The mouthwash is used for its intended purpose (for caries, for fresh breath, etc.).
- The procedure time does not exceed 30 seconds twice a day.
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The baby's first toothbrush will help to accustom to oral hygiene from early childhood. Correct and regular care will keep your teeth healthy and prevent numerous diseases of the internal organs.
It is best to entrust the selection of the first hygiene item to a specialist who will assess the condition of the oral cavity, take into account the baby's age, and recommend the most correct choice.
It is necessary to teach to watch the baby's teeth from an early age, since the earlier a useful habit is fixed in the child's mind, the healthier the teeth will be and the more beautiful the smile.
You can start taking care of your teeth from the moment the first tooth erupted., and this is done with the help of a special massage brush.
Still sucking recently, there was an opinion that it is not necessary to brush milk teeth, since they will soon be replaced by molars, and then it is already necessary to take care of the permanent teeth.
However, dentists claim that the health of permanent teeth is greatly influenced by the condition of milk, which are also supported by the development of tooth decay and other dental diseases.
Caries of milk teeth
Milk enamel is very thin, and is actively destroyed under the influence of sweets and chemical additives, which are filled with modern food products.
Regular brushing of teeth from bacterial plaque will help keep baby teeth healthy before age replacement, as their early removal can lead to a displacement of the dentition.
Removed carious milk teeth can cause malocclusion, abnormal growth of molars, and speech defects.
The importance of brushing from an early age:
- the correct bite is formed, which is necessary for the harmonious growth of molars;
- healthy teeth reduce the risk of caries, reduce the number of visits to the dentist and take care of the child's psyche;
- whole teeth are involved in the formation of the skull and facial features;
- if there is caries on milk teeth, then it easily develops on molars;
- Taking care of your teeth from an early age forms such positive qualities as accuracy and care for your health.
The most important reason why it is necessary to start oral hygiene as early as possible is carious bacteria that easily spread throughout the body and lead to serious diseases of the internal organs.
Selection criteria for the first brush
A toothbrush for children under one year old and from one year old must meet all quality standards and be certified in various parameters.
The modern market offers a huge selection of children's oral hygiene products, and parents need to be able to choose exactly a high-quality brush that will benefit, not harm.
Rigidity
The cleaning effect of the enamel depends on the hardness of the brush. There are ultra-hard brushes on the market, medium hard, soft and extra soft.
If the baby's teeth and gums are in order, then you can choose a stiff brush, which will have a good massage effect on the gums.
If the gums bleed or the baby has natural soft enamel, then a soft bristle would be the best choice.
Parents who have doubts about which brush is right for their baby can choose the average criterion - medium.
A child's toothbrush must meet all quality standards
Stubble
The worst reputation has been earned by natural pork bristles, which tend to exfoliate, separate from the head cell and enter the stomach.
There have been cases when natural bristles were blamed for the development of appendicitis. In addition, natural bristles are a breeding ground for bacteria that are poorly washed off with water and actively multiply on natural fibers.
The best choice would be a brush with a silicone bristle, which does not delaminate, holds its shape perfectly and does not multiply germs.
Bristle length
For high-quality cleaning of milk teeth, it is recommended to select the length of the bristles no more than 11 mm. You can select even bristles that exert uniform pressure on the teeth, or you can choose two-level ones, which have a better cleaning effect in the interdental spaces.
An excellent option would be a brush with an indicator where special harmless paint is used. As use progresses, the paint wears off, indicating to the wearer that it is time to replace the hygiene item.
If your child has too wide interdental spaces, it is recommended to select a brush with V-shaped bristles, which will most effectively clean the side surfaces.
Handle design
The baby brush should have rubber pads on the handle that prevent fingers from sliding off, injuring the gum.
Such a toothbrush is chosen for children from one year old, who can already independently carry out the oral hygiene procedure. A special bend helps to reduce pressure on the gums"Ball" or "snake".
Don't be afraid to buy an extra long handle, which is also designed to relieve pressure.
Head design
The shape and size of the head should be optimal for the child's mouth. If these parameters are too large, it will cause inconvenience and discomfort when cleaning. Also, too large a head will make it difficult to clean the enamel in places where the jaw bends.
It is most convenient to select the size of the head according to the size of the child's teeth. The optimal size is 2-3 teeth. The head itself should be round or oval, without sharp corners.
Interesting design designs will help to interest the baby when brushing teeth
Design
A huge selection of design designs will help to interest the baby and instill a useful skill. A bright, colored, cartoonish pen will become a real discovery for a child and a good friend in dental care.
When buying, pay attention to decorative elements as an overloaded handle can become inconvenient to use. It is good if the brush has a protective cap, thanks to which dust, water and microbes will not get on the fibers.
Choice for the little ones
You need to start monitoring oral hygiene from the moment the first tooth erupts, this is approximately 5-6 months. At such a tender age, the baby still does not know how to independently carry out the procedure, but this does not mean that it is too early to accustom to oral hygiene.
For the very first hygiene procedures special toothbrushes are purchased for children under one year old, which represent a silicone fingertip.
The structure of the brush allows you to start hygiene at the very beginning of teething. At the end of the fingertip there are silicone tubercles, which gently clean the gums and teeth from plaque, massage the gums, and relieve itching.
Babies are happy to perceive such hygiene, since when teething often suffers from itching and soreness. You do not need to use toothpaste for such cleaning, since the child does not yet know how to rinse his mouth and spit.
It is important to rinse the fingertip well with baby hygienic soap after each cleaning of the mouth, and store it in a special case.
A soft, high-quality toothbrush for children from 1 year old will not damage the baby's mucous membrane, does not injure the gums, and does not violate the integrity of the enamel. In addition, the pressure on the surface to be cleaned is always controlled by the mother, so this brush is the safest and most convenient method.
How to properly brush your baby's teeth
From early childhood, it is necessary to teach the child to regular oral hygiene before breakfast and after dinner. To make the habit firmly entrenched in the mind of the child, you can come up with interesting games that will arouse interest in this useful activity.
Brushing your teeth with your parents helps to strengthen the habit very well. This is an interesting, fun and educational process that can become a good tradition in the family.
The rules for brushing milk teeth are the same as for molars:
- Hold the brush at an angle of 45 °, making "sweeping" movements from the gum to the edge of the tooth. The child will have to repeat all these rules more than once, so parents should be patient. Do not allow your toddler to move the brush in the opposite direction, as he will simply drive plaque under the gums, where tooth decay can develop.
- A silicone toothbrush should not only work on the top side but also internal. If the baby already has chewing teeth, you need to clean them in a circular motion, not forgetting about the gums.
- You can buy a separate brush to clean your tongue and inner cheeks., or use the back of the head, where there is a rough nozzle.
- After cleaning it is important to rinse the mouth thoroughly by removing toothpaste and cleaned plaque.
- The brushing time depends on the number of teeth. If there are few of them, then you can limit yourself to one minute. When the gums are completely filled with straight milk teeth, the time should be increased to 2 minutes. Not many children can withstand monotonous cleaning for such an amount of time, so you can hang a timer clock in the bathroom, or buy a children's hourglass.
In order for the baby to better remember the cleaning technique and not forget about the rules, you can hang a bright poster in the bathroom with step-by-step instructions.
A cheerful melody helps to while away the brushing time, to which you can brush your teeth in time. If the child is not very good at it, then you should not deprive him of the initiative.
Show by your own example what movements you need to perform, brush the child's teeth yourself, and then let the child tinker with the brush with their hands.
Sometimes it happens that the child stubbornly does not want to brush his teeth, and does not show any interest in this process. The task of the parents is to interest the child, find motivation and arrange this procedure in the form of a game.
You should not force your child to brush their teeth by force, as such actions can cause conflicting emotions. A silicone toothbrush, which he himself chose in the store, will help to motivate the baby.
Such a purchase will become the real pride of the baby, who was entrusted with the choice of such an important item.
Many parents ask dentists what a child's toothbrush should be. Among the huge assortment of a wide variety of hygiene products, it is difficult for the buyer to navigate the choice, especially if the purchase concerns a small child. Parents are always faced with the question of the safety and harmlessness of the goods provided.
In addition, oral hygiene devices for infants began to appear on the shelves. And many moms and dads have different questions about the age at which the hygienic procedure of the oral cavity should be started, and how to make the right choice of care products.
The first child's toothbrush must be purchased in advance. Now dentists are inclined to believe that it is necessary to take care of the oral cavity even before the appearance of the first tooth. For this purpose, they began to produce special silicone brushes that are worn on the finger. One side of such a device looks normal, and on the other side there are soft round bumps.
Such a product performs 2 functions: it cleans and massages the gums. When the baby begins teething, this massage will quickly calm the baby and make the teething process less painful.
As for the cleansing of the gums of a newborn child, in order to simplify this process, special wet wipes in the form of a fingertip began to be produced for babies. They are impregnated with a special harmless composition that allows you to gently cleanse the baby's oral cavity from white curdled plaque in case of thrush. Clean the inside of the cheeks, gums and tongue with a napkin. Previously, this procedure was performed with a sterile bandage that was wrapped around the finger.
High-quality silicone oral care devices for babies are completely harmless. They cannot injure the mucous membrane, since silicone is a rather soft material. The adult himself controls the pressure exerted by the fingertip on the child's gums.
Toothbrush for babies
While the child is small, the first teeth are cleaned by adults. It is important that by the time of brushing the teeth on their own, the child has learned to rinse his mouth and spit water. Usually, by the age of 3, the baby begins to perform this procedure himself, if you teach him how to do it.
A toddler toothbrush should have a small cleaning head and a large handle for comfortable grip. This is important for a baby, since hand motility at this age is not fully developed, and a large holder will be just right. And, what is also important, the holder must not be made of slippery material, otherwise the brush will slip out of your hands.
To make the process of brushing your child's teeth enjoyable, brushes for babies are produced with a bright and interesting design. They are produced in the form of toys with characters from familiar cartoons and fairy tales.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist therapist
As for the bristles, they should be soft and with slightly rounded ends so that the gums are not injured. The head should fit about 20 bristle tufts. This is quite enough to avoid damage to the mucous membrane.
Manufacturers have even come up with electric models that can teach a child to brush their teeth. With the right movements, they make certain sounds, and so that the child does not spend a lot of time in this activity, the indicator changes color after the time has elapsed.
How to choose the right brush for your baby
When choosing, it is important to consider the size, shape and stiffness of the bristles. These parameters should correspond to the child's age and the anatomical structure of his oral cavity. If you are at a loss with the choice, then a pediatric dentist can always help you.
The bristles are the most important part of the product, therefore special attention should be paid to them. It is better to give preference to synthetic materials.
The oval-shaped handle prevents the brush from being pushed deep into the mouth, and the ring in the middle allows the baby to hold it comfortably
Natural bristles are unhygienic and have a very short lifespan. If natural fiber is examined under a microscope, you can see a structure similar to pasta. Microbes enter these holes when brushing your teeth, which remain in them and begin to multiply. Therefore, dental hygiene products made from natural bristles always smell unpleasant. Natural bristles quickly break and become prickly, they can easily injure the gums.
Silicone bristles
The thinner the synthetic fiber, the more expensive the brush is. That is why products with soft and thick bristles are considered the most expensive. But you can ignore different silicone inserts and other details, they look very nice, but they are absolutely not functional.
The bristles come in various lengths. Young children need to choose products with short, even bristles and a not very long handle, so that the baby does not put extra effort when brushing teeth. Watch the video with a detailed description of the choice:
For older children
Older children can buy standard-shaped products with thick bristles. The fibers should be of medium length so that they can easily penetrate the interdental space.
The quality of dental care depends on the skills of the child: it is important to perform the correct brushing technique, which determines the quality of hygiene. Even the most expensive children's toothbrush will be ineffective if used incorrectly.
There are variations where you can see both soft and hard stubble. It is suitable for children during the period of changing teeth, as it will be possible to brush their teeth with varying efficiency.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist therapist
Dental hygiene products with flexible handles are designed for easier penetration and cleaning of hard-to-reach places.
You can find products with V-shaped bristles. They are suitable for children with large spaces between their teeth, as well as for those who wear braces.
Oral-B Ortho V-Bristle
When wearing orthodontic appliances, it can be difficult to remove food debris from under them, and products with a special bristle shape facilitate this process. The head of the product should not be too long, and the arrangement of the bristles should be in 3 or 4 rows.
Electric toothbrushes
As for the electric devices for babies, they are conceived for those children who do not like the process of brushing their teeth. The manufacturers thus decided to draw their attention to this hygienic procedure. They are quite attractive and have more of a toy look. Here's an example from Philips Sonicare that makes it clear what the industry is offering to kids today:
But is everything really so cloudless? Electric dental hygiene products have a number of contraindications that parents should be aware of before purchasing them. They should be discarded in the following cases:
- with increased abrasion of teeth - is determined by a decrease in the height of the tooth;
- if there are precursors of caries on the tooth enamel - white spots indicating low mineralization of the teeth;
- with various defects on the teeth;
- in case of the appearance of tartar;
- with inflammation of the gums.
All of the above conditions when using an electric brush will aggravate the position of the teeth. Dentists are against this technology and do not recommend using it for children of any age. An electrical product does not spare the enamel, but in combination with it destroys it.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist therapist
What to do if your child loves to brush his teeth with an electric toothbrush? Use it alternately with the usual one, having come up with any version for this.
Before use, you need to thoroughly rinse such a product under running water. Store in an upright position. Caps or cases are used only when traveling. It is necessary to monitor the timely change of the cleaning attachment, as well as the change of batteries.
Storage and care rules
Children's toothbrushes must be stored correctly and upright. Before using (even if it was in an airtight container), you need to wash it thoroughly with soap and water. If it was sold without packaging, then you need to hold it in boiling water for several seconds.
After each brushing of your teeth, the hygiene item must be rinsed under running water so that microbes do not linger on it. It is advisable to change the child's toothbrush every 2 months or earlier if necessary.
There is no need to cover the head of the toothbrush with different caps - the bristles should dry thoroughly after use.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist therapist
During storage, make sure that the child's brush does not come into contact with the brushes of adults in order to avoid the ingress of bacteria. Better to keep it separate.
After suffering infectious diseases, the toothbrush should be thrown out and replaced with a new one, no matter how good it is. This must be done to prevent reinfection.
Rating of children's toothbrushes
Dental tests were carried out using the following brands of children's toothbrushes:
- Oral-B - Ireland.
- Trisa - Switzerland.
- Aquafresh - Germany.
- Jordan from Malaysia.
- Colgate - China.
- Chigour - China.
Moreover, testing was carried out for indicators of a cleansing effect and a gentle effect. Oral-B and Trisa have shown excellent results.
For example. There are a lot of models on the market from Oral-B.
Oral-B Toddler Toothbrushes are a favorite of many parents. They are satisfied with everything:
- soft bristles that do not hurt the gums;
- flat head that allows you to get into hard-to-reach places;
- comfortable handle;
- a marking on the bristle that indicates the correct amount of toothpaste.
The Aquafresh and Jordan toothbrushes were rated “good”. And the brushes of the Chinese manufacturers of the Colgate and Chidour brands were in the last places. And as the examination showed, the price of the goods does not affect its quality in any way.
Although Silver Care toothbrushes were not tested, many children loved them, especially the Happy Brush model:
Jordan brushes do well, but their lifespan is limited by the fact that when more teeth appear, using them becomes inconvenient. The wide rubber handle can be used as a teether.
Toothbrushes Nuby and R.O.C.S. users are dissatisfied with their high bristles, which, with the slightest pressure, diverge to the sides, and they have to brush their teeth with plastic.
Children grow, and with them the dentition changes and grows. Small teeth are replaced by strong and large ones, therefore, teeth cleaning devices must be selected according to age. For older children, a harder bristle is selected, and the size of the brush head should increase with the increase in the area of the teeth. As for the handle, it should always be comfortable, and even better rubberized.
There is an unjustified opinion that care for temporary teeth is unnecessary. But according to dentists, milk teeth affect the quality of permanent teeth, and therefore you need to take care of them from an early age.
Taking proper care of your child's oral cavity from a very young age will help prevent the development of a number of diseases. The first teeth, as a rule, begin to erupt at the age of six months. But this does not mean that up to this point one should not pay attention to hygiene.
More recently, a child's toothbrush meant a smaller copy of a common hygiene device for adults. Currently, pharmacies and other specialized retail outlets have a wide selection of brushes, the design of which takes into account all the structural features of the child's dentition.
note: almost half of the products offered by retail chains to the attention of consumers are imitation of well-known brands. In practice, many attractive children's toothbrushes are found to be made from inferior materials.
When choosing a hygiene accessory, consider the following factors:
- child's age:
- the strength of the enamel of the teeth (depends on age and individual characteristics);
- condition of the gums (presence or absence of inflammation).
When to buy your first baby brush?
Pediatric dentists recommend that parents use a special silicone fingertip to clean and massage the gums when their baby is 3 months old. This massage is especially important during the eruption of the first teeth.
To maintain the hygiene of the baby's oral cavity at a high level, you can also use a regular napkin moistened with boiled water.
Before buying toothbrushes for children, it is recommended that you consult a dentist - he will help you choose the model that will best suit your child.
You can start using this hygiene device when your baby is 1 year old. Until the age of two, parents should brush the baby's teeth, and then it is already necessary to teach the child to carry out this procedure on their own. In order to interest the child, you need to introduce an element of play into the process. All baby brushes should be bright and attractive. The handles of some modern models can change color after a certain period of time; this is a kind of signal that brushing your teeth has been going on for a long time. You can also find patterns that make sounds when movements are made in the right direction.
note: the product should not have sharp edges, burrs (burrs) and chipping on the plastic. These types of defects are characteristic of cheap imitations. It is simply dangerous to use such devices.
What characteristics should you pay attention to?
The main characteristics of a toothbrush are considered to be the handle, the working part and the bristles.
A pen
When choosing, you need to pay attention to the shape and material of the handle. It is important that the brush does not slip in the child's hand during the cleaning process. For this, a rubberized coating or grooved pads are usually provided, as well as special protective rings. The handle should be relatively long. The baby's coordination of movements is still far from perfect, and the movements of the hands when brushing teeth are somewhat more sweeping. With a long handle it will be much more comfortable for him!
It's good if cartoon characters are depicted on the handle. The child will use such an accessory with pleasure, and the daily necessary procedure will turn into an exciting activity. In this case, it is undesirable for the brush to have many volumetric "decor" elements. It is not always convenient to hold such devices, especially if the hand is wet.
Working part
The size of the head (working part) of the first toothbrushes should be minimal so that the baby does not experience discomfort during brushing and does not accidentally injure the mucous membranes of the cheeks. The optimal size of the model head for the smallest (from one to two years old) does not exceed 20 mm. As the child grows up, you can purchase brushes with larger working parts. For children from three years of age and older, it is advisable to choose models with a head length up to 23 mm.
Regardless of the age of the child, you need to choose models with rounded heads. This form virtually eliminates the likelihood of damage to the gingival mucosa.
note: the joint of the head and the handle must be flexible; otherwise, the child will not be able to clean all surfaces of the teeth well, especially the chewing ones.
Stubble
You need to pay attention to the material and the degree of stiffness of the bristles. Models with natural hairs should be avoided, since bacteria proliferate on them especially actively, and pathogenic microflora in childhood very often causes stomatitis. In addition, natural material is fragile, and pointed hairs can damage your gums and cheeks. It should be noted that toothbrushes of this kind are relatively rare on the market.
Remember: this is exactly the case when the statement “everything natural is good” ceases to “work” ...
The best quality of cleaning enamel surfaces and interdental spaces is provided by brushes with a length of synthetic fibers within 11 mm. It is preferable to choose fixtures with a flat bristle surface (the same height), since they provide uniform pressure on all surfaces.
For young children, the most soft (but elastic) bristles are most preferable, since babies cannot yet control the force of pressing the brush to the gums and teeth. Rigid hairs sometimes cause increased abrasion of the fragile enamel of milk teeth and inflammatory diseases of the gums as a result of permanent injury to soft tissues.
When a child's diet includes the same foods as an adult's, an accessory with firmer (stiffer) bristles will be required. Models with soft hairs make it difficult to properly clean the interdental spaces, in which, for example, meat fibers get stuck.
For children whose interdental spaces are slightly larger than normal, as well as for adolescents whose bite has to be corrected using braces, special models with V-shaped bristle tufts can be recommended.
Important: according to experts, the optimal arrangement of the bristles is 3-4 rows.
In older preschool and primary school age, when the bite begins to change (i.e., the first permanent teeth appear), it is advisable to purchase a model for the child, the bristles of which will be the same as on devices for adults. The main thing is that the working part has a more modest size.
How often do you need to change the brush?
The toothbrush should be changed at least every three months. If it is visually noticeable that the bristles have thinned out or began to stick out in different directions (this is very typical for cheap samples), then the replacement should be done earlier. According to the recommendations of pediatricians and pediatric dentists, you also need to buy a new brush after your child has an infectious disease.
How to teach your child to brush their teeth regularly?
Most children are not eager to go to the bathroom twice a day and do hygiene procedures there - after all, there are much more interesting activities. Parents are encouraged to first of all set an example to the child, that is, they themselves regularly brush their teeth. Children tend to want to be like adults in everything, so this way you can form a healthy habit in the child.
It's good if the toothpaste tastes good. The truth should be noted: there are a lot of various products on the market with flavors and flavorings, but, unfortunately, not all of them are absolutely safe. When choosing a paste, you should also pay attention to its purpose (hygienic or therapeutic and prophylactic). In this case, it is recommended to consult a pediatric dentist.
For kids, you can come up with a story about teeth, a brush and paste, and invite the child himself to become a direct participant in this fairy tale.
Electric toothbrush for children
Electric models have entered our life quite recently, but have already gained popularity among consumers.
Electric brushes for kids have their pros and cons. First of all, you need to take into account that suspiciously cheap models, as a rule, are of poor quality. They break down quickly, and during operation, the movement of the working part may not be smooth enough. Counterfeits are sometimes simply traumatic.
The head of a good electric brush is capable of reciprocating, circular and vibrating motions. Brushing teeth with this innovative device takes less effort and time from the child, making the hygiene procedure less tiring and more fun. The movement of the bristles in different directions ensures high-quality plaque removal from all surfaces. Undoubtedly, the use of such devices provides a higher level of oral hygiene than with traditional "manual" cleaning. But it must be borne in mind that the enamel of milk teeth is relatively thin and fragile, therefore, an overly active mechanical effect can lead to its thinning.
Electric models from leading European manufacturers have very delicate villi of the working part. There may be a special colored field on the head, allowing you to measure the optimal amount of paste. In order to interest the child, a number of children's models are equipped with bright protective caps in the form of funny animals. The handles of the models have an ergonomic shape, and their sizes are adapted to the small palm of a child. Research conducted by child psychologists has confirmed that it is electrical models that motivate a child to perform routine hygiene.
The use of models of this category is permissible from the age of 2-3, but only under the supervision of parents. Having bought such an accessory for a child, you need, at least at first, to carefully observe how cleaning is carried out. It is important to ensure that children do not leave the working part in one place for a long time and do not press it too tightly against the gums.
note: a number of dentists are of the opinion that it is advisable to buy an electric brush for a child whose bite is already removable, that is, at the age of 6-8, after the beginning of the eruption of permanent teeth.It is not recommended to use special additional attachments until the age of 8-12. Adolescents who already have a permanent bite (ie from 13-14 years of age) can use the conventional "adult" electric model.
It makes sense to buy an electric brush only when the child has acquired the minimum necessary skills in handling a common hygiene accessory. In addition, the manual skills acquired using the conventional model contribute to the improvement of fine motor skills and the overall development of the baby.
Ionic baby toothbrushes
Innovative "ionic" models are now on sale. These unique devices additionally ensure the change of the negative charge in the oral cavity to the opposite one, due to which the level of acidity in the mouth is normalized. Research has confirmed that ionic models increase the beneficial effects of conventional ones.
note: Ionic brushes have contraindications. Before buying, carefully read the annotation, or better - consult with your doctor.
Experts believe that the active participation of parents in the process of brushing their teeth makes sense until the child is 7 years old, that is, more or less careful control is needed only for preschoolers. For older children, the obsessive attention of elders to the usual procedure can only be harmful from a psychological point of view.
If you want to choose the right toothbrush for your child, we recommend that you also watch this video review:
Plisov Vladimir, dentist
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