Tooth cleaning in childhood
- Cleaning of the teeth has to be started at the infants when the teeth are penetrating the gum.
- Risk of the decay could be decreased by 95 % at the babies if the early infections were avoided. An American dentist proved that usually mothers infect their babies with bacteria responsible for the decay, which can be transmitted to the baby with a small drop salvia (e.g. sneezing).
- Nature "worked out" milk teeth as there is no enough space in the mouth of a child for the permanent teeth. Of course, we can say that it would be much easier if the teeth were growing slowly; but our teeth are so hard and sold and this hard structure does not make is possible to grow.
Let's stand behind the kid when they are washing their teeth.
Only some toothpaste is needed, which will not foam in the mouth of the child.Pay attention to this as the kids in this age are not able to spit the unnecessary foam.Child should not swallow the tooth paste. The fluoride of the tooth paste should be in contact with the teeth to strengthen the dental enamel.Kids are enjoying of they can do different things on their own, but we also have to be there to ensure that everything goes well.
Tooth cleaning by a kindergartner
At the age of 3-6 let's stand behind the child. If he lets it, bend his head back a little bit and ask him to look forward while we are washing his bottom teeth. Children shall use tooth brushes for kids, but we have to clean their teeth.
He might be happy if he can apply the tooth paste to the brush but we should insist on the small amount of tooth paste, as it might happen that he swallows the unnecessary tooth paste. Before the age of 6 it is not probable that the child can spit the tooth paste, but we have to encourage him with give a glass of water for rinsing.
Not keen on washing the teeth?
There will be a fight with the children day after day in the early childhood. The following might help in sorting out the problems:
- Let's wash our own teeth when he is also washing his!
- If he is watching us cleaning our teeth, he might be interested in copying us!
- Let's pretend that we see fragments in his mouth that shall be washed and admire him if he can do that.
- Put a mirror in his height to make him possible to see how he is cleaning his own teeth!
- Allow him selecting his favorite tooth brush!
- Let's use a puppet as a "friend" with whom he can wash his teeth together and ask him to show his "tiger teeth" to be able to wash his front teeth.
- Always admire his shining teeth and him as well, that he was a good boy!
As he is getting older and older he would like to take active part in the tooth cleaning and he will take away the tooth brush from us. If he is doing so, do not oppose because he thinks about tooth washing as a play and probably it is easier to get him washing teeth regularly. Do not forget to clean the teeth of the baby as he is not ready to make a proper job.