Choose children's toothpaste and toothbrushes like this

 

What you need to know before choosing your child's toothpaste

 

 

Fluoride toothpaste is known to cause side effects such as vomiting and osteoporosis if it accumulates in the body in large quantities. In addition, an overdose of fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which is the appearance of spots on the teeth.

 

However, using fluoride-free toothpaste for oral health is not a good option. According to guidelines published by the American Dental Association (ADA), fluoride-free toothpaste is not effective in preventing tooth decay. Therefore, using a low-fluoride toothpaste that contains fluoride but has a low content may be a way to prevent tooth decay and minimize side effects.

 

 

For children under the age of 3, it is recommended to squeeze toothpaste into about a grain of rice. This is because up to 3 years of age, baby teeth are small and few in number, so they don't need to use a lot of toothpaste. For children between the ages of 3 and 6, the amount is about the size of one pea.

 

 

Benzocaine* is used in toothpaste as well as in medications for sores in the mouth, but it can also cause cyanosis, which is a decrease in oxygen saturation in the blood vessels. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has even reported that oral products used by children that contain benzocaine should be discontinued. It is recommended that newborns and young children avoid toothpaste containing benzocaine.

 

What you need to know before choosing a toothbrush for your child

 

 

Children have a habit of biting their toothbrushes when brushing, so the bristles spoil quickly. Broken bristles make it difficult to clean your teeth and cause tooth decay. It is recommended to change one toothbrush every 3 months rather than using it for a long time.

 

 

Children have delicate teeth and gums, so they should use soft bristles. From 6 months onwards, when teething begins, it is recommended to use a toothbrush with a small, soft bristle with 360 degrees to clean every nook and cranny. After 20 months, you can use a toothbrush that resembles an adult's toothbrush, but we recommend using softer bristles as much as possible.

 

 

Electric toothbrushes are not recommended for children in lower grades. This is because if you don't hold the handle of an electric toothbrush well, your gums may be injured by the spinning toothbrush. In addition, when using an electric toothbrush, you should use an abrasive-free toothbrush toothpaste. Using regular toothpaste with abrasive ingredients with an electric toothbrush can damage your teeth.

 

What you need to know about brushing your child's teeth

 

 

It's okay for children before they start teething to not brush their teeth. Instead, after consuming milk or formula, residue may accumulate in your mouth, so you can wipe it off with a gauze towel dipped in clean water.

 

 

Teaching them to brush their teeth in a fun way from a young age can help them develop good brushing habits. At first, let your child clean it themselves, as if it were a game.

 

When teaching children to brush their teeth, it's a good idea to be conscious of their audience. It is said that if you stand the main characters in a children's book or video in front of you and show your child brushing their teeth, they will be conscious of the crowd and brush their teeth harder. Using a toothbrush that looks like a toy can make your child more happy.

 

It's also a good idea to show pictures of mites or cavities before brushing. If you let your child know that they may get mites in their mouth if they don't brush their teeth well, they will learn to brush their teeth harder.

 

When your child is done brushing their teeth, it's time to check that they're well cleaned.