Oral hygiene starts before the milk teeth erupt, preferably after breastfeeding and every night, the mother gently scrubs the gums and palate with sterile gauze wrapped around her finger. And pay attention to give a small amount of warm water after eating to clean the mouth.
For infants before 1 year of age, a 4*4 cm piece of gauze can be wrapped around the index finger and moistened with boiling water. Stick the gauze wrapped index finger into the mouth and wipe the tongue, gums and oral mucosa. For teething babies, wrap the moistened gauze around the index finger and clean the baby’s teeth horizontally and horizontally. Zhang Ping, Department of Dentistry, MCCCI Comprehensive Outpatient Center
Children between the ages of 1 and 3 can start learning to use a toothbrush with the following tools: a toothbrush (choose a soft-bristled small-headed toothbrush for toddlers, with bristles that are not too dense and of the same length; the length of the toothbrush head should be the width of four incisors. (Once the bristles are worn or bent, replace the toothbrush with a new one.) Mouthwash cup and mouthwash (When children are unable to spit out the mouthwash as instructed, they should use boiling water to rinse their mouth.) Toothpaste (When the child is unable to spit out toothpaste on command, brush with water; if the child can spit out toothpaste on command, use fluoride toothpaste.) One method of brushing that preschoolers should master is the vertical brushing method: the upper teeth are brushed downward, the lower teeth are brushed upward, the biting surface is brushed back and forth, and each tooth surface is brushed 10 times. The other is the circular brushing method: after the upper and lower teeth are closed, the lip (cheek) side is brushed from the upper gum to the lower gum with a faster, wider circular motion, and the tongue (palate) side needs to be quivered back and forth from the maxillary arch to the mandibular arch. Brush for at least three minutes each time, twice a day in the morning and twice a day in the evening, especially before going to bed.
When you brush your child’s teeth at first, do not ask for a clean brush, let him get used to the posture and movement of brushing first, and then gradually ask for a clean brush.
For younger children, the adult sits on the sofa or bed with the child’s head on the adult’s lap. For older children: The adult sits behind the child, with the child’s back on the adult (on the thighs or belly), and tilts the child’s head back slightly so that the performer can look directly at each area of the teeth. Choose a well-lit place to brush teeth to ensure a clear view.
In any position, hold the child’s chin with one hand and brush with the other. Hold your child’s head at a 45 degree angle to prevent drool from getting caught in the throat.
There are no guidelines for when a child should start brushing with a toothbrush, but it usually starts when the child has more teeth and is used to the act of cleaning his or her mouth daily. At the age of two, children can begin to play with a toothbrush and practice brushing on their own in front of a mirror; however, because the neuromuscular development of their hands is not yet mature, they still need to rely on their parents to help them clean their teeth effectively.