Special cleaning
For babies with the first milk teeth, the best brush is a silicone massager, or, more simply, a fingertip. It looks like a transparent cap with short silicone pimples. Putting the finger on the index finger, and brushing the teeth, you gently remove the plaque and perfectly massage the gums. And with 2-3 years, when the child can already clean the teeth himself, he needs a special baby brush with artificial bristles (in natural hairs, germs spread easily). Wide handle of a brush to the kid to hold more conveniently, than narrow. Dentists do not recommend the use of electric brushes. They have an abrasive effect and damage the thin enamel of children's teeth. Parents who use irrigators know that this is an appliance due to which the hard-to-reach places in the oral cavity are cleaned. But since the flow of water or dental fluid is supplied from it under pressure, it is not suitable for babies, since it can frighten a child and injure his insufficiently strong teeth.
About the benefits of fluoride
Dentists have proved that fluoride is useful for prevention and control of caries. Why? Fluoride, found in saliva, accumulates on the surface of the teeth and attracts to them other minerals, for example calcium. The latter, in turn, successfully restores the structure of tooth enamel in the initial stages of its destruction. For this, children should clean the teeth with fluoride-containing paste twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. By the way, the minerals that form on tooth enamel are much harder than those that were originally on it. And in the tooth tissue there is a new element - fluorapatite. It effectively resists acids produced in the mouth, and prevents bacteria from multiplying, which prevents the release of destructive acids. However, for a more competent choice of toothpaste it is better to consult a dentist. The fact is that there are regions where the water contains an increased amount of fluoride. In this case, the pediatric dentist will warn you that you can not clean teeth with paste containing fluoride. This will increase the level of this element in the body, and its overabundance entails fluorosis. It occurs if a child receives a lot of fluoride during the formation of teeth. In a light form, fluorosis is expressed by small specks on the enamel. In serious - the enamel completely changes color and can become rough. Then without the help of specialists it is already impossible to clean it.
Every man to his own taste
Start using toothpaste from the age of 2. Before that, you can do with a fingertip. On the packaging of children's pastes, the age for which it is intended is indicated. The amount of toothpaste on the brush should be with a small pea. For children under 6 years, "family type" pastes are categorically not suitable, because they contain substances harmful to them, make sure that the paste is not "abrasive." It can damage the thin enamel of children's teeth. some of them are stored only for a month.Take caution when choosing a pasta with a certain taste.Sometimes children are pleased to taste this paste.Dentists recommend to buy the paste without taste and smell, so that the baby does not have a desire to eat it secretly from the mother. all the same decided to choose a "tasty" paste, then do not take it, at least mint, as it sometimes causes vomiting. Each time, watch how the child cleans the teeth. If you could not keep track of it, and the baby ate a lot of pasta, then it is likely to vomit. With obvious signs of poisoning, call an ambulance.
Together for strong teeth
To the kid himself learned to clean his teeth with pleasure, he must be carried away by this process. Try for some time to turn brushing your teeth into an interesting game. Construct funny faces. Write a fairy tale about healthy teeth that suddenly became ill, because the landlady was lazy to clean them. In a word, fantasize so that this procedure from boring to turned into fun and desirable. You can go for a little trick. Suggest reading a fairy tale for the night after the teeth are brushed. Let the child under your sensitive guidance participate in choosing a personal brush, pasta and a glass. Try to turn brushing your teeth into a joint tradition. Imitating your actions, the kid will get a strong motivation to clean them with pleasure. Healthy teeth baby - it's also the right food. Limit the baby in sweet, contributing to the development of caries. And remember that sugar is contained not only in sweets, but also in buns and cookies. Teach your baby more often eat fruits, apples and carrots, which are not just useful, but also cleanse your teeth. Try to ensure that the menu of the child had as many dairy products containing calcium. And do not frighten the child with horror: "Do not brush your teeth - you will be drilled and torn." Write for the baby the image of a good dentist - the real protector of his teeth, who knows best how to help the crumb keep his teeth strong and healthy. forget to organize a meeting-inspection more often with this best friend of children's teeth.
How to properly brush your teeth?
Teach your child that the teeth should be cleaned properly. It is important not just to apply toothpaste and smear it on the teeth, but carefully remove the remnants of food and plaque, because of which bacteria accumulate in the mouth. In the morning, you should clean - immediately after breakfast, and not before, as previously thought, to remove the leftovers of food, and do not clean them on an empty stomach. The second time - after dinner, cleaning the remnants of food from the mouth.
Technique of proper cleansing of the oral cavity
1. Teach the child to wash the toothbrush before cleaning. Explain that for a night it could have accumulated germs.
2. Help him squeeze a small amount of paste on the brush, about 0.5 cm. And then show how to correctly place the head of the toothbrush. It should be turned to the gum line at an angle of 45 degrees. When making short circular movements in the direction from the gum to the cutting edge, carefully clean the outer surface of each tooth (10-15 times). Let the kid repeat your actions. First he will get it awkwardly, interest him with this process. Tell me that his favorite fairy-tale characters also always carefully clean the teeth.
3. Explain to the baby that the inner surface of the teeth should be cleaned from the gum to the upper end of the tooth. Install the brush at this perpendicular to the cutting edges. Do this in a circular motion (10-15 times) in the direction of the front-back.
4. Teach the crumb to clean the teeth carefully from all sides, not missing the most difficult areas.
5. Do not forget to also clean the upper front teeth - not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
6. Teach the baby to do a soft gum massage. Let him close his mouth without taking out the brush, and make it circular movements with the gripping of teeth and gums. It looks pretty funny, but it's necessary.
7. Explain to the child that bacteria accumulate on the tongue too. And it's good that he at least sometimes cleaned it. To do this, it is enough to hold a brush several times towards the tip of the tongue.
8. Say that before you finish the procedure, you need to thoroughly wash the brush, washing off the remnants of food and paste between the villi. And only then put it in a glass of bristles up.
9. Share the secrets of high-quality cleaning: let the kid do not press on the brush too much, use a small amount of paste, thoroughly and several times rinse the mouth during and after cleaning.