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we always want the best for our baby, including maintaining health and hygiene. As parents, we have to choose the right baby toothbrush and toothpaste for the toddlers which is very important for the baby’s healthy teeth and gums. Parents should establish good dental habits from an early that helps in developing the baby’s teeth for the lifetime. This article discusses what parents should know about good baby toothbrushes and toothpaste and how to start the best oral care for their babies.
When to Start Brushing by using the right baby toothbrush and toothpaste
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), every parent should make habits of cleaning the baby’s gum before teeth are seen by using the good baby toothbrush and toothpaste. To remove the bacteria and to make the habits of the teeth brushing schedule use a very soft damp washcloth or silicon finger brush. After the first teeth appear after six months, now parents should shift to the baby toothbrush
Choosing the Right Baby Toothbrush and Toothpaste
In the market, we can find various types of baby toothbrushes and toothpaste, but we have to choose the best products for our babies, which should make their oral hygiene comfortable and hygienic.
1. Finger Toothbrush: A finger toothbrush, made from silicon and fitted over the parent’s fingers, is best for babies before their first teeth are seen because it helps to clean the gum.
2. Baby Training Toothbrush: Baby brushes are easy to hold and have extra bristles. These baby toothbrushes are specially made for 6-12-month-old babies and come with a safety shield that helps to stop the brush from being inserted into the baby’s mouth.
3. Toddler Toothbrush: When baby grows their teeth will grow after getting more teeth the toddler toothbrush is mostly recommended. Most toddler toothbrushes have slam heads and soft bristles which have an easy grip to handle due to the baby can brush their teeth by themselves with the help of their parents.
4. Electric Baby Toothbrush: These toothbrushes have very soft bristles and a small brush head that makes fun for the baby while brushing the teeth. Nowadays most parents choose an electric baby toothbrush to make the baby enjoy and feel comfortable while brushing.
How to Brush Your Baby’s Teeth
Brushing a baby’s teeth requires patience and technique. Every parent always uses the best baby toothbrush and toothpaste for their babies but sometimes they don’t follow the steps. Follow these steps for effective cleaning:
- Use a Soft-Bristled Brush: Baby gums are very sensitive When choosing parents should choose the soft-bristled that will not affect or hurt their baby while brushing the teeth.
- Use a Tiny Amount of Toothpaste: Most of the time the babies want to brush their teeth because they love the flavor of the toothpaste but parents should give smaller amounts of toothpaste (tooth given to the baby must be about to size of the grain of the rice) will be enough.
- Brush Gently: Always take a very small amount of toothpaste, motion should be circular, and gumline and back teeth that are recently appearing should not be missed.
- Make it Fun: Make brushing a fun time for your baby. You can sing a song dance and also let them handle the brush by themself so that the baby can have a very good time with you as well as a good experience of brushing.
- Brush Twice Daily: Always make the routine of brushing your teeth for your babies twice a day which will continue for a lifetime.
Choosing the Right Baby Toothpaste
For every parent, a baby’s health is important. Most parents are very conscious of their baby’s products, especially toothpaste. Toothpaste helps to avoid cavities and makes the enamel strength high. Every toothpaste is not safe for babies here are some which will be helpful:
1. Fluoride vs. Non-Fluoride Toothpaste
According to the American Dental Association (ADA) to prevent cavities fluoride is important, but it is very harmful to very young children who swallow and always give rice-sized amounts of fluoride in toothpaste should be given to babies under 3 years. Every parent is very concerned about the baby’s teeth by using fluoride or fluoride-free they want natural products like xylitol for the baby’s teeth that fight with bacteria.
2. Safe and Natural Ingredients
We want natural products to use for our baby for the safety. While choosing toothpaste always choose the product that contains mild ingredients and always avoid toothpaste where artificial products are used such as sweetness, dyes, and harsh abrasives. In markets, we can find mild fruit or vanilla as natural flavors that will be better for your child whereas strong mint flavors will be very strong.
3. ADA Approval
While buying the baby toothbrush and toothpaste always make sure that the toothpaste is ADA approved (American Dental Association). We can believe toothpaste that is approved by the ADA always promises to meet the standards of high-quality oral care.
Common Challenges and Solution of baby toothbrush and tooth paste
Sometimes baby become a little bit stubborn while brushing their teeth. bruising baby teeth is not always easy parts for parents, we will explain the challenges that parents must face and how to overcome this problem.
1. Baby Refuses to Open Their Mouth
Most of the babies refuse to open their mouths but the parents can have more fun while brushing by using the baby’s favorite toys, brushing teeth with their babies together, and turning them into a game.
2. Baby Bites the Toothbrush
Most of the baby chew the toothbrush while brushing their teeth, give them one brush to chew and another one to clean their teeth.
3. Baby Dislikes the Taste of Toothpaste
Every baby is not the same some babies do not like the flavors of toothpaste so always try different natural flavors like fruits which are specially designed for babies.
The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups
Being healthy is always necessary, healthy teeth are very important and regular checkups of teeth are compulsory for babies. According to AAPD, the first checkup of the babies must be done after appearing the first teeth or before the babies are 1 year that helps to protect the early issues and parents get the knowledge of the proper oral care for their babies.
Conclusion
For every parent, their babies are always important. To keep the babies healthy and hygienic parents should always start oral hygiene habits which will be helpful for teeth and gums for their whole life. choosing habits of the right baby toothbrush and toothpaste and implementing them in the right ways can keep your child healthy and happy. Make the brushing schedule a fun part of your daily life, you will find the benefits for your baby in the future.