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When
should I clean my
baby's teeth?
Start
with a soft cloth and rub your baby's gums before the first tooth
appears. This will get them used to you working in their mouths.
As soon as the first tooth arrives begin using a small, soft bristled tooth brush to clean the
tooth after eating there are many suitable brushes on the market from
reputable companies. Only use a pea sized amount of toothpaste. Young
children cannot spit things out as well as adults and consequently swallow most of the
toothpaste. Too
much fluoridated toothpaste can cause permanent spots on their teeth
called dental fluorosis.
I find it
difficult to brush my child's teeth . What's The Best Way?
Try kneeling behind
your child and get him or her to lean their head back against your body.
This will make manipulating the toothbrush easier for you. Give your
child a mirror to hold while you brush so that your child can see what is being done.
remember that young gums are much much more sensitive than ours so be
very gentle.
Is it important to
brush before bed?
Brushing
gets rid of the plaque and bacteria that buildup on the teeth. If
you don't get rid of the bacteria and sugar that cause cavities, they
have all night to do damage to your child's teeth. While you are awake, saliva helps keep the
mouth clean. When you are asleep, there is less saliva produced to
clean the mouth and decay can develop more rapidly. For this reason it is important to brush before
bedtime.
When
can my child brush on his / her own?
Young children do
not have the manual dexterity to brush properly. Your child will need
your supervision and help brushing until he or she is 8-10 years old
to ensure a thorough brushing has been done.
What
About Fluoride ?
We
recommend that you choose a brand name fluoride containing toothpaste
for your child. Additional fluoride supplements are often useful to help
protect teeth further but this is something that should be discussed
with the dentist before use.
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