Oral Hygiene For Children

Teeth cleaning influences the future health of children. For this reason, it is important to take care of oral hygiene and brush your teeth early!

Promoting good oral hygiene in children is extremely important, as this depends on their future oral health. Thus, according to published data, in 2017 caries affected 31% to 38% of children under five years of age in Brazil.

The best way to combat this problem is to prevent and teach good oral hygiene habits from childhood. Want to find out how to take care of your children’s oral hygiene? Keep reading this article.

What is children’s oral hygiene?

Mother teaching her daughter to brush her teeth.

Taking care of your children’s teeth means much more than keeping them from looking yellow. Although this is a problem that worries us and bothers us aesthetically, good oral hygiene in children is much more than having white and shiny teeth.

When we talk about cleaning the mouth, we include teeth, cheeks and tongue. A healthy mouth is summarized in:

Healthy, white teeth, no food leftovers or presence of plaque and/or tartar.
Pink gums that don’t bleed or hurt when you brush your teeth.
good breath

Now what does a child need to take care of their teeth at home? Do you need to buy a lot more than just a toothbrush and toothpaste?

Complements for children’s oral hygiene

Dentists recommend that adults brush their teeth, floss and use a mouthwash at least twice a day. And in the case of children? Let’s see what they need to keep their mouths clean and healthy:

Toothbrush : must be adapted to the child’s age. You can ask your trusted dentist which type of bristles is best for your little one. It is important that children learn to brush their teeth manually, even if they have an electric toothbrush.

Toothpaste : Choose a toothpaste suitable for your child’s age. Also consult your dentist about the best brand, and whether or not it should be fluoridated.
Flossing : it is recommended that children from 4 years of age start flossing with the help of an adult. By the age of 8 or 9 they will be ready for the task.

Tips for children’s oral hygiene

Good oral hygiene in children involves prevention! Obviously, the first step for our little ones to have white, healthy teeth is to take care of them before they get into trouble. To do this, it is important:

1. Start oral hygiene early

Teach children's oral hygiene from an early age

Normally, we think that oral hygiene in children is just about dental care, but this is not true. For this reason, it is important that you take care of cleaning your children’s mouths since they are babies .

Clean the gums with a gauze pad and when your children’s teeth start to grow, brush them gently to prevent the development of bottle decay .

2. Brush your teeth at least twice a day

Ideally, children brush three times a day : when they get up, after lunch and after dinner. Correct brushing requires:

First, put a small amount of toothpaste on the brush. The amount should not exceed the size of a pea.
Then brush the inner surface of the teeth first, one by one. Remember to angle the brush to also clean the tooth-gum junction.

Afterwards, clean the outer surfaces of the teeth one by one. Keep the angle to the gum
Also, brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Pay special attention to the molars.
Finally, don’t forget to brush your tongue.

If your children are older than four, you can begin cleaning using a floss, taking care not to damage the gums. Be patient as the task will likely be difficult the first few times.

Note : It is important that you change the brush every 3 months, or when you notice wear.

3. Avoid excess sugar

Children can consume sweets, of course, but always in a moderate way. For example, candy sticks to teeth, so if the little ones don’t brush their teeth after ingestion, this sugar can damage the piece, causing decay .

4. Have a balanced diet

Healthy eating is not only good for general health, but also for oral health in particular. So then, include foods rich in calcium, phosphorus and fluoride in your children’s diet so they have healthy and strong teeth!

5. Choose water as your favorite beverage

Without a doubt, sugary drinks can damage teeth. For example, think that if your child doesn’t brush their teeth after drinking a glass of juice, then these sugars will stay in their mouths, causing different problems.

6. Visit the dentist

At least once a year, children must have a dental check-up. Therefore, take this time to consult the professional about the best care for your children’s mouth.