Good oral hygiene practices should be instilled in toddlers as soon as their first teeth appear. This includesget baby used to using a toothbrush.
In order to encourage regular brushing of their teeth, a toothbrush for children specific to their age should be used. This page will help you understand this.
Which toothbrush for your child, until what age?
There are different criteria to take into account in order to know which toothbrush is best for baby.
Before the age of 2, it is possible to clean baby's first teeth with a water-soaked pad or a soft silicone finger pad. However, as a general rule, children can't start using a toothbrush until they are 2 years old.
Between the ages of 2 and 6, age-specific toothbrushes for children are recommended. For the youngest, for example, these toothbrushes are small and adapted to their mouth. The handles are also thicker for a better grip.
From the age of 7, children are old enough to brush their own teeth. They can either use a regular toothbrush (assuming they understand the brushing motion) or use a special electric toothbrush for children adapted to their age.
Which toothpaste for which age?
It is not recommended to use toothpaste for your baby before he is 18 months old. Indeed, the child does not master swallowing before this age. Moreover, he does not know how to rinse his mouth properly.
Until they are 6 years old, children should use a toothpaste containing a quantity of fluorine adapted to their age:
- From 2 years old: brushing once a day with a fluoridated toothpaste between 250 ppm and 600 ppm provided the child knows how to spit out,
- From 3 years old: brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste between 500 ppm and 1000 ppm,
- 6 years and older: brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste between 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm.
Note that brushing time should not exceed two minutes, regardless of the child's age.
How to choose a toothbrush for children?
Before you start looking for your child's future toothbrush, let's remember the criteria that should not be overlooked.
The shape of the head
The shape of your child's toothbrush head should be age-appropriate. For young children, we recommend a small, round head because it fits the shape of the teeth perfectly and helps clean the spaces between the teeth.
The ergonomics
The overall shape of your child's toothbrush should be ergonomic. This means that the toothbrush should be easy to hold, not too heavy and not slip through the toddler's fingers.
The flexibility of the hair
Babies and toddlers tend to chew on the bristles of their toothbrushes. So make sure the bristles are soft. Otherwise, the bristles can damage your child's tooth enamel, especially if he or she brushes briskly.
Finally, don't forget that for children, brushing their teeth is not necessarily a source of pleasure. In order to ease the tension and turn this tedious exercise into a moment of relaxation, don't hesitate to use a toothbrush with bright colors, with an atypical design or that proudly displays your child's favorite cartoon hero.
Some toothbrushes are even connected: they can play music or suggest a game to the child to keep him busy while brushing his teeth.
