You may think lightly of your baby’s oral hygiene just because they don’t have teeth or not yet starting on solid food. However, milk formulas contain sugar that can damage their tooth enamel. Moreover, taking care of their teeth at an early age is a good habit for them to bring as they grow older.
In this blog post, we’ll look deeper into the oral health of little kids and how to pick the perfect toothbrush for their little mouths. Make sure to take down some notes to help you take care of your kid’s teeth!
3 Oral Health Care Tips for Infants
It’s normal for babies to lose a few teeth between ages 1 to 8. New teeth will come out as they grow older, but it doesn’t mean you let their teeth decay. Over 40% of kids suffer from tooth decay when they reach the age of 2 years old, while over 50% of kids between 6 and 8 experience issues with their teeth because of cavity buildups.
Good thing this can be prevented with proper oral hygiene. Here are some important oral care tips for their infant year.
Find a Dentist for Your Kids as Early as One Year Old
Problems with your kid’s teeth begin with a lack of knowledge. So pediatricians recommend that, as early as year one, get your kids a dentist. Your dentists can give valuable advice for your kid’s oral care so you can prevent tooth decay and other problems that could hinder the growth of their permanent teeth.
Avoid Sharing Things That Go Into Their Mouth
Since bacteria cause tooth decay, avoid sharing things that kids put in their mouths to prevent them. If you have multiple children, always give them their own set of utensils. Never share their spoons, fork, and cups with one another. Not sharing also goes with parents. Your used spoon can transfer bacteria to your children, causing tooth decay.
Make Use of a Teething Ring
When your kids reach the age of one, they will experience sore gums. It can make them irritable most of the time, but it’s normal for growing children. Using chilled teething toys effectively relieves the pain from their swollen gums. You can also use over-the-counter teething gels but check with a physician before using one.
3 Oral Health Care Practices for Toddlers
When your kids reach their toddler years, their teething phase is almost at its end, and their baby teeth will start to come out if not a few have already fallen. Here are some oral care practices you should do for your kids at this age.
Establish Oral Care Habits
When your baby’s teeth start to come out, parents should start brushing their kid’s teeth. Dentists recommend brushing kids’ teeth after breakfast and before going to bed. Finger toothbrushes with a small amount of toothpaste are best for kids to clean their mouths.
You can also start gently flossing when two of their teeth collide. Moreover, take your kids to a dentist once every six months to maintain their oral health.
Establish Proper Eating Habits
You can help your kids avoid cavity buildup by establishing their eating habits. Too much sugar consumption is the primary cause of cavities. If your kids are still drinking milk formula, it’s best to look for milk with less sugar content. Also, give them fewer sugary drinks and snacks in a day. At most, kids should consume less than 6 ounces of sweets.
Furthermore, make it a habit to clean all their utensils. For example, if your kids are using the same sippy cup, make sure to clean them every after use. The bacteria accumulation on their feeding tools can be the onset of cavity buildup.
Break the Habit of Thumb Sucking and Pacifier
While children will generally break the practice of sucking their thumbs and using pacifiers, other children will find it harder to stop. Help your children break the habit when they turn 4 years old. Thumb sucking and pacifiers can create problems with your kid’s teeth alignment.
Here are some tips to help you break the habit.
- Avoid getting frustrated with your kids. Instead, give them rewards when they stop themselves from thumb-sucking.
- Thumb sucking is often the cause of anxiety in children. Find the cause of your children’s anxiety to address the problem.
- If your kids are really struggling to break the habit, consult a doctor. They can recommend medications to help them overcome the problem.
How to Choose Your Baby’s First Toothbrush
Toothbrushes are easy to find. They come in various sizes, shapes, and colors at your local grocery. But which is the best baby toothbrush for your little ones? Here are some considerations to look for when choosing your child’s toothbrush.
Size
There is a wide range of tiny toothbrushes for your kids. But as your kids grow and more teeth come out, their toothbrushes should also cater to their needs. Baby toothbrushes are usually labeled with an age range. Toothbrushes are not like clothes that they will grow into.
Don’t get your kids an adult toothbrush because it’s too big for a baby’s mouth. Always get them the one applicable to their age range.
Bristles
Soft silicone bristles are a must-have for your kid’s toothbrush. Remember that babies’ gums are still very sensitive, so stiff bristles can irritate and damage their gums. Aside from soft bristles, it should also be firm. Most kids chew on their toothbrushes, so make sure they can withstand a long of chewing for it to last.
Furthermore, the bristle material should be food-grade silicone. Some materials, like hard plastic, can be toxic for your kids. The best baby toothbrushes are those BPA and phthalate-free to guarantee their safety.
Handle
Little kids are still working on their grip, so get a toothbrush with an ergonomic handle to help them learn the brushing motions easily. Some brush handles can also double as teethers for your kids.
If your little one is still teething, you might want to consider those types of toothbrushes.
Electric Toothbrush
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), kids can have electric toothbrushes if they prefer them over manual ones. It is as effective in fighting plaques and gum disease with proper use. However, dentists recommend that the use of electric toothbrushes should start at the age of three.
Also, electric toothbrushes for kids go through inspection. So look for the ADA seal when buying one for your kids.
Importance of Having a Clean Mouth
Just because your kids only have milk or purees for their meals, cleaning their mouths is unnecessary. But, before you toss aside the importance of oral hygiene, here are some reasons you need to.
- Cleaning your kid’s mouth is essential if you want them to grow a healthy and pearly white adult set of teeth.
- Regular brushing prevents tooth decay which leads to better food chewing, digestion, and absorption.
- A healthy set of teeth helps your kids with their speech and pronunciation.
- The first set of baby teeth affects your child’s facial development and the growth of their permanent teeth.
Ashtonbee’s Baby Toothbrush
If you want to start brushing your kid’s teeth early, then Ashtonbee has the right finger toothbrush for your kids. Learn more about this product and see why it’s a must-have for your kid’s oral care.
- Ashtonbee’s finger toothbrush helps maintain your kid’s oral hygiene without hurting or damaging their gums.
- It has a double-sided feature. One side has a soft brush feature for cleaning teeth, and one side has massage bumps to help soothe aching gums.
- The baby finger toothbrush is made from high-quality food-grade silicone free from BPA, BPS, Phthalates, latex, and other toxic chemicals.
- These finger brushes are an excellent way to introduce your kids to oral care before you give them an actual toothbrush.
Brush, Brush, Brush, Three Times A Day!
Your kids will lose their baby teeth are they grow up, but it doesn’t mean you let your kid’s teeth rot and fall due to cavity buildup. Oral care is essential and should start at a young age. Building healthy habits will help them with their proper growth and development.
We hope these tips help you take care of your kid’s teeth. Also, don’t forget to browse our shop for baby high-quality baby essentials. Shop with us today!
