What Is The Right Age To Start Brushing Your Child S Teeth

As a new parent, there will be many questions and doubts going on their mind continuously regarding their baby’s health. Also, there will be some members, may be their friends or families, giving them advices about how to take care of baby’s health when they are born. But when coming to dental health, they will not even think about it until the child gets first cavity.

The best time to counsel parents is when the mother is expecting because the parents are more receptive at this time.

First, parents should know the importance of baby teeth

1. Baby teeth act like foundation for the developing permanent teeth
2. They are needed for proper grinding of food
3. They maintain space for the permanent teeth to occupy
4. Child’s self-esteem with healthy teeth

IN INFANTS (0-1-year-old)

Cleaning your child’s mouth can be started as early as the first week of birth. Baby’s gum pads should be cleaned with a clean, moistened gauze piece after every feed. The gauze can be wrapped over the forefinger to wipe the ridge of baby’s upper and lower jaws. This helps in clearing the oral flora, increasing blood supply to jaws and also facilitates teething. Child’s first dental visit is advised at the age of 6 months.

IN TODDLERS (1-3 years old)

Most of the children get dental caries before the age of 3.

But how? My child only drinks milk at this age and how he gets caries? Will be the parents’ question.

Milk either mothers’ milk or infant formula, can lead to caries when allowed to stay over tooth surface for a long time. When breastfed or bottlefed at night, the milk gets layered over the tooth surface. In night time, the saliva secretion will be comparatively less and the milk that has been over the tooth surface will not be cleared leading to caries. So it is essential for the parents to clean baby’s teeth regularly after every feed without failing.

Silicone finger tooth brushes can be used at this age to brush teeth.

IN PRESCHOOLERS (3-6 years old)

Child can be encouraged to brush themselves with a small head tooth brush and half a pea sized amount fluoridated toothpaste under the supervision of parents. Preventive treatments like Topical Fluoride application, Pit and Fissure sealants can be done in their dental visits.

IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (6 – 12 years old)

Children in the age group of 6 – 12 years will experience shedding of baby teeth and eruption of new teeth. They will have discomfort while brushing due to shaking teeth. They should focus on brushing with small head tooth brush and a pea sized amount fluoridated toothpaste.

Contact us 9840036061/ [email protected] for queries and appointments.