Toothbrushes for children: how to make the right choice?

Hygiene of the oral cavity is a pledge of the general health of a person. That is why it's important to start taking care of the baby's teeth from the time of their eruption, and even earlier. This is necessary in order to prevent the formation of infections in the oral cavity and associated diseases associated with improper dental care.

Inherent assistants in the process of cleansing the mouth are toothbrushes for children. But how to choose them correctly for crumbs, what to look for when buying such a hygiene remedy? We will answer these and other questions in our article.

When do I start brushing my teeth?

There is an erroneous opinion that due to the impermanence of milk teeth, it is not very important to take care of their health, because they will soon fall out anyway. In fact, this is completely wrong. Damaged infant teeth can lead to the spread of the disease and to the root, and also contribute to the curvature of permanent teeth. In addition, the risk of developing such diseases as caries, stomatitis and pulpitis increases. Similar problems with health are often very painful for the child and negatively affect the laying of molars. Suffering and diction in patients with teeth, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Given the above factors, we can conclude that hygienic care for the oral cavity is needed literally from the birth of the baby, and the first toothbrush for the baby should be purchased no later than the first tooth will cut through.

Bristle material

When choosing toothbrushes for children, it is important to pay attention to the type of bristles. Those parents who prefer all natural, will have to be frustrated, since such bristles are difficult to clean from bacteria. This means that the natural material in the toothbrush will not only fail to cope with the task, but it can also harm spreading the pathogenic flora.

Therefore, the best choice - bristles made of artificial materials. But here it is also important to pay attention to rigidity, since coarse bristles can damage the thin enamel and even the gum. It should be moderately soft, in three or four rows. Such a toothbrush will suit children of different ages, except for babies. The first toothbrushes for children are made of soft and safe silicone. They are described in more detail below.

Head diameter

When choosing the size of the head of the toothbrush should be guided by this rule: the smaller the child, the smaller the diameter of the head. Only with this condition it becomes possible to clean the teeth from all sides. The most optimal indicator is 10-12 mm.

If we talk about the shape of the head, then they are round, rectangular, triangular. It is better to choose the round shape of the brush head - it is the most safe for the child. It is especially important to consider this factor when a toothbrush is purchased for children up to a year - a shape with edges can damage the delicate mucous gum.

A pen

The baby does not know how to hold the toothbrush firmly and properly. But any wrong movement can lead to a trauma to the oral cavity. Therefore, it is important when choosing a toothbrush to pay attention to its handle. It should be moderately wide so that the child could confidently, without applying special physical effort, comfortably hold the product.

It is important that the handle is rubberized or has special silicone inserts. Such simple adaptations will help the child not to miss the brush from his hands. Similar recommendations apply also in case an electric toothbrush is chosen for children.

Design

In order for the child to clean his teeth with pleasure, you should choose a brush with a bright original design that corresponds to the age of the baby. This is easy to do, because the market offers a wide range of the most diverse models. They are decorated with drawings of cartoon characters, made in the form of figurines, with built-in light and even music. You can offer the crumb itself to choose a toothbrush, but parents should not forget about the necessary important characteristics of the device.

Usual or electric?

Electric toothbrush for children is becoming increasingly popular. Parents believe that with the help of such a device the baby's teeth are cleaned better. But are they really comfortable, practical and safe for the child? In fact, if the choice is between an electric and an ordinary toothbrush, it is better for children to choose the latter. The automated device often leads to small injuries of the oral cavity and damage to the thin enamel of children's teeth. In addition, given the rather high cost of electric brushes, parents buy them for their babies, as they say, "for years", which can not be done! Since for hygiene purposes it is recommended to change the baby toothbrush at least once every 3-4 months.

Ionic toothbrush: what is special about?

Japanese development is an ionic toothbrush. This is a completely unique device for cleaning teeth. The principle of operation is the disconnection of the poles. The fact is that scientists have established why there is a raid on the teeth. It appears due to the fact that the microbes have a positive charge, and the enamel of the tooth - negative. And, as is known from the school physics program, the charged particles are attracted.

The ion brush is designed in such a way that its bristles have a negative charge. Thus, when in contact with the tooth surface, the microbes are attracted to the brush.

This kind of toothbrush is increasingly in demand from parents of children up to a year. Since you can use the product without toothpaste (which is important for kids who have not yet learned how to rinse your mouth). This kind of toothbrush does not require mechanical hard friction, which means it is safe for crumbs.

Ion toothbrush: user opinion

Comments from consumers about this novelty for oral hygiene are diverse. Some consider the tool to be effective and safe, while others tend to believe that such a brush does not cope with high-quality cleaning of teeth, and also worry about the negative influence of magnetism on the baby's body. In some cases, such a novelty is purchased for newborns, in others it is used as a toothbrush for a child 7 years and older - it is suitable for children of all ages.

First toothbrush

Separate attention is required by the choice of the first toothbrush. Especially for the youngest are developed an edition, called in the people "fingertips". They are made of silicone. You can use them before the first tooth is prone to massage the gums and cleanse the oral cavity. To do this, the mother needs to put the brush on the index finger and gently massage the gums gums.

For one-year-olds

Children, who have already cut a few teeth, you can offer yourself to learn how to clean them with a silicone brush with a stop. The most safe toothbrush for children from 1 year, as the bristle material is soft, it is difficult to damage the gum or enamel, and the protective ring prevents the deep penetration of the product into the oral cavity.

Reviews about silicone toothbrushes

Both "fingertips" and silicone brushes for older children are becoming increasingly popular with their parents. The reviews speak of the high safety of the use of such devices, even when used alone by their children. In addition, they can be used in the form of "teethers" in order to reduce pain, itching and swelling with the appearance of the first teeth.

But silicone toothbrushes are not suitable for children from 3 years, because in connection with anatomical changes to older babies, effective cleaning of the oral cavity requires a hygienic assistant with soft bristles.

In addition, silicone toothbrushes need careful care, since between the villi can accumulate pathogenic microflora. After each tooth brushing, this brush must be boiled.

How often to change?

To ensure that the baby's teeth are healthy, you need to take care not only about the correct choice of toothbrush, but also about caring for it, and also about storage:

• Change the toothbrush every 3-4 months;
• After each use, the product should be thoroughly washed and dried;
• Store in a vertical position bristly head up;
• When stored in a case it is important to regularly monitor and keep it clean, do not put on other brushes.

Where can I buy?

To buy toothbrushes for children preferably in pharmacies. In stores, you can often encounter fake or poor-quality product. It is also worth noting that you should not over-economize - the subsequent treatment of tooth-decayed teeth will be much more expensive. But also overpay also makes no sense - a child can become too attached to the toothbrush he likes and will not want to part with it when the time comes to change it to a new one.

Choose quality hygiene-friendly, comfortable toothbrushes for children. And then the teeth of your kids will respond with health and beauty.