Why should children (too!) brush their teeth?
That’s it, the baby’s first teeth point their noses? We’ll have to start cleaning them. “It is important not to overlook these small milk teeth on the pretext that they will fall soon, confirms Dr. Jérémy Amzalag. On the contrary, prevention of those first teeth will condition the good health and harmonious alignment of the permanent teeth! »
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The importance of baby teeth
The baby teeth or deciduous teeth play an important role in the life of the child. “Already, from a functional point of view, these first teeth will allow the baby to change from liquid food to solid food, and to make him discover the pleasures of taste, details the specialist. From an aesthetic point of view, they give the possibility to the child to smile and interact with its environment. Finally, they are outposts of permanent teeth and they serve as a conductor rail so that they can evolve in a good position. It is therefore important not to neglect them. »
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Quilts not to be overlooked!
Did you know that unlike permanent teeth, deciduous teeth are more likely to se carier ? “Compared to permanent teeth, enamel, i.e. the superficial layer of the tooth, is less mineralized and thinner while the dentine – the underlying layer – is more porous. These characteristics give the milk tooth a greater susceptibility to caries, confirms Dr. Amzalag. The nerve of the tooth, also called the dental pulp, is larger than that of permanent teeth. Therefore, if a cavity develops, it will reach the nerve more quickly, thus risking causing pain and a risk of infection in the tooth. »
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When should baby see the dentist for the first time?
In the absence of an emergency (pain, dental discomfort), the first visit at the dentist usually takes place around the age of two. “The choice of practitioner is important, reminds the specialist. Indeed, some professionals are better able than others to establish a relationship of trust with young patients. The first visit allows the child to become familiar with the dentist as well as with the environment of the dental office, and to play down future visits. »
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At what age should you start brushing baby teeth?
It is important to start brushing as soon as baby has teeth. ” Around 18 months, as soon as the child knows how to coordinate his gestures, parents can start teaching him the game of brushing, says Dr. Amzalag. Use a soft brush and some water – before the age of two, it is not useful to put toothpaste because baby tends to swallow it! – and insist on the playful dimension of this ritual. Indeed, the child should not associate brushing with a chore. Then, show him how you do it by leveraging the instinct to imitate. Too bad if his gestures are a little disorderly at the start: the important thing is to make him integrate the brushing reflex.
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The rules of effective brushing
When to brush baby teeth?
It is recommended to brush your child’s teeth twice a day. ” Twice, morning and evening, it’s better, confirms the dentist. It is essential to brush them at night before sleeping. Indeed, during the night, the production of saliva decreases and the acids are no longer neutralized; the risk of formation of caries is then higher. »
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For how long ?
It is important to brush your baby’s teeth for at least two minutes. “To allow him to respect this time, you can, for example, use an hourglass, a stopwatch or even program one of his favorite songs whose duration corresponds approximately to that of brushing”, advises Dr. Jérémy Amzalag.
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How to brush your 18 month old baby’s teeth?
Warning: we do not brush our teeth just anyhow! “Brushing should be done from the gum to the tooth, says the dentist. This allows to do not traumatize the gum and avoid the phenomena of withdrawal and of sensitivity. At the level of the upper teeth, the movement of the toothbrush will be from top to bottom, while at the level of the lower teeth, the movement of the toothbrush will be reversed, that is from bottom to top. »
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Which toothpaste to choose for baby according to age?
The French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD) recommends brushing the teeth of her baby with water before the age of two. “The choice of toothpaste then evolves according to the age of the child and the recommended dose of fluoride”, explains the dentist.
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- Among 2 and 3 years oldit is advisable to use a toothpaste that contains between 25 and 60 mg fluoride, provided that the child knows how to rinse the mouth and spit it out,
- Among 3 and 6 years oldbrushing will be done with a fluoridated toothpaste between 500 and 1000 ppm, i.e. containing between 50 and 100 mg of fluoride,
- Then, from 6 years oldwith a toothpaste containing between 100 and 150mg of fluoride.
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« Fluoride plays an important role in the prevention and the caries reduction, continues the specialist. It actually reinforces the enamel resistance bacterial and acid attacks. However, excessive consumption can lead to fluorose, a pathology of future permanent teeth. This is characterized by a coloration and an enamel deterioration, especially in the upper and lower incisors. As the sources of administration are constantly increasing today, an overdose is possible. Hence the importance of adapting the toothpaste and its fluoride dosage according to the age of the child. »
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…and which toothbrush?
Choose one toothbrush equipped with a little head, so that it is well adapted to the mouth of your child. The bristles of the brush should be flexible so as not to attack the gums. You can also opt for a electric tooth brush.
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What to do when baby does not want to brush his teeth?
“If we find that the child is resistant to the use of the manual toothbrush, we can resort to electric toothbrush to give an appearance more fun to brush, advises Dr. Amzalag. These toothbrushes are sometimes equipped with a musical timer that will allow the child to better respect the brushing time. »
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Our tips for good dental hygiene
To have healthy teeth and avoid cavities, the right reflexes are taken early!
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Brush your child’s teeth twice a day
To make brushing part of a routine and not become a chore, try to make this ritual a fun time ! For example, choosing a fancy toothbrush with a built-in timer and using a fruity toothpaste.
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Consult your dentist at the slightest pain
Does your child complain of pain when he eats, or have you noticed a small dark spot on one of his teeth? It may be a caries.
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It is important to make an appointment with the dentist without delay, because a cavity develops more quickly in a toddler and must therefore be treated quickly, says Dr. Amzalag.
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Eat a balanced diet
” A balanced diet and an careful oral hygiene represent the two pillars of good dental health”, sums up the dentist. Also, do the sugar hunt industrial – candy, soda, etc. – and prevent your child from snacking between meals. “Bacteria are particularly fond of sugary residues lying on dental plaque. However, the bacteria-sugar mixture leads to the production of acids which attack the enamel and the dentin, thus causing the caries. »
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Avoid bottles of sugary liquids
“Finally, it is necessary at all costs to avoid to give bottles of sweet liquids (water, milk, syrup) aimed at making it easier to fall asleep at bedtime or even at calming a fit of agitation in children, particularly after the age of 18 months, warns Dr. Amzalag. Indeed, if bottle-taking continues beyond this age, it can lead to what is called “baby bottle syndrome”. When we persist in giving so-called “comfort” bottles to a child who is well past the age of weaning, the teeth permanently macerate in a sweet and acid bath, thus causing demineralization followed by the development of cavities. This baby bottle syndrome manifests itself first and foremost by the caries which attacks the smooth surfaces of the upper incisors. If the use of the sweet bottle is not immediately interrupted, the decay spreads then at the level of canines and temporary molars at a spectacular speed, resulting in considerable dental destruction. The dental surgeon can then decide to extract the affected tooth(s) if the caries is too severe.
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