The children's dentist is there to teach your children the right things to do.
In order to maintain good oral hygiene and healthy teeth, it is important to know how to brush your teeth properly. It is not enough to brush your teeth several times. Otherwise, brushing too hard or too much can lead to problems.
How to properly brush your child's teeth?
From 0 to 6 months
- Lay your baby on your lap or on the changing table,
- Standing behind him, use a damp cloth or compress to clean the gums. Healthy teeth come from healthy gums,
- Do this after every feeding or every time you give your child a pacifier.
From 6 months
- Brush your baby's first teeth twice a day with water and a soft toothbrush.
From 1 year old
- Give your child his first toothbrush to get used to this new everyday object. Let your child brush his or her teeth by imitating you,
- Finish brushing your child's teeth yourself by standing in front of a mirror and behind your child while letting his head rest against you.
From 2 years old
- It is recommended to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes.
From 4 or 5 years old
- Gradually teach your child to rinse his or her mouth and spit out the toothpaste.
- Use playful ways to make brushing your child's teeth fun (games and songs). Explain that if your child doesn't brush properly before bed, bad monsters will get into his mouth.
ATTENTION: Brushing assistance is necessary until the age of 8 years minimum.
Always pay attention to the teeth at the back of the mouth, which are more difficult to access with a toothbrush and may therefore have more plaque than others.
What is the correct brushing technique?
- Use an appropriate toothpaste prescribed by the dentist,
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid irritating the gums,
- Brush the gum in a circular motion towards the tooth.
CAUTION: brushing your teeth from left to right is very hard on your gums.
- Start brushing on the upper right cheek side and make at least five circular motions on each tooth, then repeat the same motions on the tongue side. Finish by brushing the chewing surfaces with back-and-forth strokes in a straight line.
- Do not apply too much pressure on the gums so that they do not suffer. If the toothbrush is worn out before two months (its bristles are bent), it means that brushing is too vigorous.
- Toothbrushes should be changed every two to three months.
What are good brushing habits?
- You should brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day for 3 minutes,
- Ideally, you should brush your teeth after each meal (and avoid snacking),
- It is not enough to clean the teeth: the gums, tongue, palate and cheeks must also be brushed,
- Floss between teeth to remove plaque that the brush cannot reach,
- Use a plaque developer to check your brushing.
