It is important to start teaching your children about proper dental hygiene habits as soon as possible. Once their first tooth emerges, you need to start brushing their teeth. But what kind of toothbrush should you be using? And at what age do you transition from one type to another? When do you allow them to start using adult toothbrushes? And is it appropriate to allow them to use electric toothbrushes?
All these questions can make selecting a toothbrush for your child a daunting one. However, this guide will walk you through tips for choosing the right toothbrush for your child.
Table of Contents
General Guidelines
The toothbrush you select must have soft bristles no matter your child’s age. Those with polished or rounded ends are ideal as they are more gentle on the tooth enamel and gums. Additionally, it should be easy for your child to hold and operate and must fit comfortably into their mouths.
However, if you keep these factors at the forefront, you can allow your child to select a toothbrush that suits their tastes in pattern, colour, design, etc. This freedom to choose will translate into their increased enthusiasm for brushing their teeth and encourage them to do it more often.
Babies & Toddlers
As your child develops from birth to when teeth first start growing, you are primarily responsible for their cleaning and maintenance. The most common tooth cleaning implement is a soft cloth to the gums at this stage. However, you can also use an ultra-soft toothbrush on the gums even before the teeth begin their emergence. These brushes are specifically designed with extra small heads to allow an easy fit inside the baby’s mouth.
Toothbrushes for toddlers are similar to those used with babies. They also feature bright colours to make them more attractive to the young ones and pique their interest in the dental care process and routine. The only difference lies in their handle size. Toddler toothbrushes have larger handles to allow the child to grip the toothbrush more easily.
Age 5 to 8
Children in this age range are more or less capable of brushing their teeth independently. They only require some supervision to help them maintain the proper techniques. Consequently, toothbrushes for kids at this stage may be similar in appearance to adult toothbrushes but bear smaller heads. Another difference is in their grip. These toothbrushes have a smaller grip than those for toddlers due to their improved manual dexterity.
In addition to size, toothbrushes for children this age also employ more fun designs and themes for additional delight. Therefore, you are more likely to encounter toothbrushes featuring animated characters like Spiderman, Elsa, or Spongebob Squarepants.
Preadolescence
At age eight and above, your child should have mastered the basics of an excellent dental hygiene routine and be able to brush independently. As a result, the toothbrush selection for children this age typically looks like slimmer-headed versions of adult toothbrushes.
Electric Toothbrushes
There are some electric toothbrushes available for children’s use. However, getting one for your child is entirely up to you. So, before purchasing one, you must determine how comfortable they are with an electric toothbrush. In addition, you also have to ensure that your child can operate it correctly and still brush their teeth properly. Finally, you can discuss the ideal choice with your child’s dentist before purchasing one.
Finally, remember that the right toothbrush only forms part of proper dental care. So help your child establish the right foundations by demonstrating the efficacy of the right tools used in conjunction with the correct methods.
