When should I buy first toothbrush for my baby?

Baby with or without tooth – his smile is one of the best happiness the world can bring you. When he smiles at you with his innocence, the whole world revolves around you. You feel yourself to be the blessed parent. Gummy smile or smile with white and small teeth – a baby is the wonderful creativity of god. But you often have many common doubts regarding proper dental care and brushing procedure of your kids. Here I provide a few answers.

Is proper brushing needed at early ages?

It’s when kids’ begin to go to kinder classes most parents begin to think about proper brushing habits. When kids become 6 months old, his first tooth is born. It’s known as milk tooth as it is milky white in colour and he still drinks milk. When he reaches 3 years old, 20 teeth would have born. It’s a myth that milk teeth don’t need proper care as they shed within a few years. It’s not true.

Milk teeth play an important role in determining the structure of jaw bone and the correct placement of new born teeth later. To get correct shape of face, milk teeth are most essential. So, in case a tooth got damaged and pulled out it can result in irregular placement of new born teeth.

So, special care is to be given before the milk tooth is born. Otherwise it may lead to many dental problems in future. Show similar interest in cleaning his teeth too, as you show in buying sweets for him. In many homes, brushing kids is like a battle fought and to avoid it, parents often soften the rules of brushing. If proper care is given from early ages, kids can attain strong and beautiful teeth for sure.

Clean plague of the baby before tooth is born

Before tooth is born, you can clean plague of your baby using warm water and cotton. Once his tooth is born give extra care. It’s through improper feeding habits 90% tooth damages occur. If mouth not washed properly after feeding milk, juice or something else, dental problem commonly known as ‘Nursing bottle carries’ may attack your kid. It affects front teeth most; starts with grey colour patches on teeth. Slowly it may affect other teeth too. It’s common in kids who drink milk while sleeping at night. Better solution to give a few drops of fresh water after feeding the kid. Also, you can clean his teeth by cotton and water. Use only boiled and cooled water for this purpose.

When should I buy him the first toothbrush?

As I have already told, proper tooth care is needed during his infant stage itself, and you should not wait till his tooth is born. Many dentists recommend buying a toothbrush for him soon after his first tooth is born. You can choose one with very soft bristles. In most cases, he will be around 6 months old. Very soon in 2-3 months his mouth will be filled with teeth. You can start tooth care earlier itself and teach him primary lessons of brushing at a younger age.

When you choose toothbrush for your kid

What type of toothbrush is needed? Paste of which ingredients? Which brand? How much time should we take to brush him? What’s the best procedure to brush his teeth? When you start brushing him every mother’s mind is surely confused with these questions. Let me try to find solution to a few questions.

1. According to dentists, best procedure is to brush his teeth before he goes to bed than in the early mornings.  When a kid sleeps all food items that he eats whole day gets deposited in his mouth and in between teeth. It gives double chances for saliva to react with sweet remains resulting in tooth decay. So, make it a habit to brush his teeth before he goes to bed every day. It won’t take more than two or three minutes.

2. Certain things are to be noted while choosing his toothbrush and toothpaste. Kids are always attracted towards bright colours and imprinted cartoon characters. Till he is two year old, choose brushes with soft bristles. Once he reaches six, you can give him brush with medium bristles.

3. Till he reaches four, it’s better to use two brushes – one for him and the other one for his mummy. Keep one brush to give him every morning to brush his teeth. Mother can use another brush every day to clean his teeth. It adds interest in kid’s mind to brush his teeth every day. Also it improves his brushing techniques.

4. While teaching him methods of brushing, a mother can also tell him about the side effects of bad brushing habits. Also appreciate him with good words if he learns good brushing methods. It’s better to give them white toothpaste with less fluoride content. Silica content of gel pastes can destroy enamel coating of teeth.

5. For brushing in the morning, no need of toothpaste. Place paste of a pea’s size in his brush. It avoids extra usage of paste. Advice him never to swallow the toothpaste. When kids brush their teeth, they may leave remote corners of mouth. Teeth used for chewing should be cleaned well. It’s mother’s duty to check if he has done his brushing properly. It’s better to clean teeth in the upper row downwards and teeth in lower row upwards; it removes wastes hidden between teeth easily.

Image source: Pixabay

Also read: 13 Common doubts related to dental problems cleared

Also read a few more articles related to child diseases and treatments and also child care. Click on the images in the gallery to read