How To Choose The Right Dental Hygiene Products For Your Child?
While dental hygiene is just as important for children as adults, there's many adult products children shouldn't use. The good news is there's a tremendous amount of dental hygiene products out there for kids. The ones you choose for your child will depend on their age and development. Here's how you can choose the right dental products for your child.
Dental Hygiene for the Early Years
Infants up to a year in age only require you gently wipe their gums with gauze or a soft washcloth. When the first tooth appears, you can upgrade to a baby toothbrush and water. Baby toothbrushes come with soft bristles, but if you feel you want to soften more, then soak the brush in warm water.
From the first to the second year, you can start using toothpaste. Make sure you only use a tiny amount, about the size of a grain of rice. You can move up to pea-sized amount closer to the end of the second year or in the third year.
In addition, avoid using toothpaste with fluoride. You can find many kinds of toothpaste, specifically for toddlers, that don't contain fluoride, and are okay to swallow. Make sure to brush your child's tongue as well.
You can also start flossing your child's teeth once any two teeth come in next to each other. Once again, go gently and make sure you're getting all sides of the teeth.
After the third year, you should start the process of allowing your child to become familiar with brushing and flossing their own teeth. You should still control their dental hygiene until they develop the right coordination to do it themselves, and to do it properly.
Finding the Proper Products for Your Child's Dental Hygiene
Choosing the products to aid you in developing dental hygiene routines for your child isn't difficult. Whether it's floss, a toothbrush, toothpaste, or any other product, there's a few things they should all have in common. Here's a few considerations.
ADA approval – No matter the product, if it has to do with oral hygiene, it should carry the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. It means the manufacturer voluntarily submitted their product for evaluation by the ADA. The ADA evaluated the product for safety and efficacy, and approved it for its intended purpose.
Age restrictions – If a product says it's for a specific age group, then do not go over or under that age restriction. There's a generally recognized path to dental development. Products are typically geared towards a specific stage of that development.
Fluoride - Fluoride is important for preventing tooth decay, but children under three should receive their fluoride from other sources. It's all situational, so speak to your child's dentist about whether they need fluoride or not.
Avoid mouthwashes – Children don't typically need mouthwash. Older children can benefit from it sometimes, but it's not always a good idea for children under the age of six. You should only use a fluoride mouthwash if your pediatric dentist says it's necessary. If your child does use mouthwash, make sure you monitor the activity.
You can find other tools to help you with your child's dental hygiene, but make sure you remember the aforementioned suggestions. No matter what you do, you should speak to a pediatric dentist office, like Pedodontic Associates Inc, about kids dental care. Your dentist can suggest appropriate products, and teach you the proper way to use those products.
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