Tell me how old you are and I’ll tell you what your oral hygiene should be like. If you think it’s not worth taking care of baby teeth because they will eventually fall out, it’s time to change your mind… If there are no teeth, is there no need to clean your mouth?, is there any point in taking care of baby teeth if they will fall out?, is fluoride bad for children?, at what age should they be able to brush themselves?
Being a parent doesn’t mean having the answer to all the questions.
That’s why, at Clínica Cervera we want to help you.
We explain what your child’s oral hygiene should be like according to their age.
Stages of children’s oral hygiene From 0 to 2 years old From their first days of life until the eruption of their first teeth, clean their gums with clean, damp gauze wrapped around your finger at least once a day.
You can take advantage of the bath time.
Once more teeth appear and the baby’s diet is more varied, it is advisable to use a brush adapted to their age.
But without toothpaste because he could swallow it, and besides, at this age fluoride is not necessary.
As the American Dental Association (ADA) explains, baby teeth are as important as permanent teeth in adults as they help with eating and speaking properly.
They also prepare the ground for future smiles by preserving space in the jaw for adult teeth.
When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can move into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to take their place when they need to come in.
This can cause teeth to become crooked or crowded.
That’s why it’s important for babies to start with proper oral hygiene that helps protect their teeth in the coming years.
Take your baby to the dentist when he or she is one year old to detect and monitor any potential problems.
From 2 to 7 years old Help and supervise brushing, which should be done at least twice a day: in the morning and at night before going to bed.
Never give your baby food before bed without cleaning their teeth afterwards or let them fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth (“bottle decay”) as these are the main causes of cavities in babies.
The only food you can eat after oral hygiene is water.
As for toothpaste, once the child has learned to spit after brushing, use a small amount with fluoride (about the size of a pea).
But don’t rinse your mouth: this will remove the fluoride before it has an effect.
From the age of 8 Your child will have already adopted both the appropriate motor skills and the responsibility necessary to start brushing on their own.
However, it is important that you supervise their brushing.