Oral hygiene is a set of measures for cleaning the elements of the dentition, gums and tongue. Oral cleaning is divided into two types.
One of them is carried out by a person independently twice a day. And the other - by a professional hygienist no more than twice a year.
Special equipment is used to remove plaque, restore enamel color and clean hard-to-reach interdental areas.
general information
The dentist not only treats, but also teaches patients and doctors of other specialties about oral hygiene.
It is important that the entire range of specialists who are directly or indirectly involved in hygienic training is involved in the training. These include educators, nannies, teachers of all levels.
Particular attention should be paid to training parents; they are responsible for shaping the hygiene habits of their children. A hygiene lesson is the most common way to teach hygiene rules.
The lessons are divided into three phases - motivation, choice of cleaning products and methods, and practical exercise.
Motivation
To convince a patient to change his habits, the doctor must make a lot of effort. Often once is not enough, so the work must be carried out comprehensively:
- theory and demonstration;
- printed material;
- videos;
- all kinds of advertising.
During personal communication, the doctor must be as convincing as possible. The patient must be pointed out to his existing dental problems, mirrors or a video camera are used for clarity.
Hygienists explain what negligence can lead to and provide statistics from the region of residence.
The patient must understand that healthy elements of the jaw arch do not cause pain, do not disturb the beauty of the smile, and do not have to give up their favorite foods.
But diseased teeth lead to the development of digestive diseases, cause bad breath and, in general, spoil the quality of life due to discomfort from pain and appearance.
Quite a lot important factor is the low cost of caring for healthy units and the high cost of treating diseased elements.
The patient must understand the mechanism of bone organ destruction that plaque destroys hard tissue and contains different kinds bacteria that have a cariogenic effect.
At this moment, the places where plaque accumulates in the patient are shown. Upon completion of the first stage of training, the patient should want to clean the surface of the teeth from all types of deposits.
Selection of means and methods
Every potential consumer should know all the products available on the market today. The choice of brush and paste is of great importance, and the doctor should help you choose products, taking into account individual characteristics person.
It is convenient if the demonstration room has hygiene kits so that the patient can compare them with their devices. Having explained the features of choosing products, you can proceed to selecting a cleaning method.
It is especially important to explain which movements to brush different segments of the teeth.
First, the doctor must understand the patient’s level of hygiene skills. This can be seen if you ask him to show on himself or on a mannequin how he is used to conducting hygiene procedures.
During the demonstration, the doctor can comment on the movements, but this must be done as friendly as possible. The specialist points out the mistakes and shortcomings of his ward.
The training process itself begins with a demonstration on a mannequin, especially paying attention to techniques that are new to the patient, and reinforces them in practice.
Controlled cleaning is carried out using a brush and paste. Before starting the procedure, the doctor paints the elements of the jaw arch with a special dye. The trainee carries out cleaning in the usual ways.
After the procedure, the quality of the work done is determined using the O’Leary method, and the presence or absence of staining is detected using a dental mirror.
The obtained data is entered into a schematic dentition. After counting, we can conclude what percentage of surfaces are contaminated. The doctor explains the mistakes and shows what needs to be changed to improve the quality of cleaning.
After this, under the supervision of a doctor, new cleansing methods are tried in practice, the doctor corrects the movements. Upon completion, cleanliness is checked again using the O'Leary method.
The specialist records the training data in order to compare these records with new indicators next time.
Choosing a brush and care rules
Classification of toothbrushes by hardness:
Classification of brushes by tuft arrangement:
When choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- The working surface must be at least 2.5 cm in size in order to grip several units during cleaning.
- To avoid injury to soft tissues, the top of the brush should be rounded. Roughness on back side will help cleanse the inside of your cheeks from harmful microorganisms.
- The connection between the handle and the brush head should be soft to prevent excessive pressure.
- The handle should fit comfortably in your hand and not slip.
Rules of use:
- Adult and children's brushes are stored in different glasses.
- A protective cap should be placed on the top of the brush, but not stored in a special case.
- After each use, the brush should be rinsed with warm water.
- Disinfect once a week with an antibacterial rinse.
- Change devices every 3 months and after oral diseases.
Consumers, when choosing a brush, began to give preference to the electric model. However, it should be noted that it has contraindications.
Contraindications for use electric brushes- diseases of the oral cavity (gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontal disease), recent oncological operations in oral cavity.
Classification of electrical devices:
Such brushes can be used if the units are healthy, have strong enamel and healthy gums.
If there is stone on the surface, then using such a device can cause gum inflammation.
Pathogenic microorganisms can accumulate at the junction of moving and non-moving parts, making it difficult to disinfect these parts.
Care according to age
Oral care methods vary depending on age. The younger the child, the more careful the care.
Lessons for parents of infants
As a rule, children under one year of age are not shown to dentists, and not all parents know about the specifics of caring for the oral cavity of infants.
Lack of care causes diseases such as oral thrush or stomatitis. Cleansing is carried out twice a day, modern market offers special products for babies.
The dentist participates in organizing lectures for pregnant women or in children's clinics.
Children from one to three years old
Training for children aged 1 to 3 years is also provided for parents.
The pediatrician gives the child a referral to visit the dentist for an examination, and the dentist explains to the parents the features of caring for milk units and the oral cavity in general.
To attract attention, the child is offered interesting types of brushes. Short lessons are conducted in the form of a game.
From 4 to 6
The child must be instilled with the habit of proper care, therefore the impact should be carried out at all stages:
- example of parents;
- in children's institutions;
- in the dentist's office.
At the appointment, the dentist must demonstrate to adults how well hygiene is carried out.
Lessons for children are divided into short sessions in the form of a game that is age-appropriate.
Each movement of the brush is repeated more than once; the adult guides the baby’s hand to control the movements and the degree of pressure. At the end of the lesson, the child must be praised and allowed to rest.
At 6 years old, a child should already know:
- the brush is intended for personal hygiene, you can only brush your teeth, and it should belong to only one user;
- It is recommended to rinse your mouth after eating;
- It is advisable to brush your teeth in the morning and evening;
- before cleaning, you need to wash your hands and rinse your mouth, moisten the brush with warm water and squeeze a pea of paste onto it;
- you need to brush carefully, trying to reach the teeth from all sides;
- You should not swallow the paste; if a lot of saliva is released during brushing, then spit it out after cleaning, rinse your mouth with water, wash the brush with soap and place it upside down in your glass;
- The brush must be changed regularly.
From 7 to 10
Parental control is weakening, children at this age learn to take care of hygiene on their own, so dentists record a deterioration in the condition.
The school allocates time to develop hygiene habits. Hygiene classes can be taught by dentists, hygienists or school health staff. Conversations are conducted in the classroom or in an equipped office.
Schoolchildren junior classes The course is divided into several short lessons of 20 minutes each. Children are asked to bring their brushes for a hands-on activity.
The plaque is stained with a special solution and demonstrated in the mirror. The lecturer shows cleaning techniques on a mannequin, after which they begin practical classes. The specialist monitors the cleaning of each student, corrects movements and pressure.
After completing the cleaning, analyze the quality of the work done. The doctor gives recommendations and points out deficiencies in cleansing and explains their cause. It is imperative to talk about the consequences of poor hygiene.
From 10 to 14
Due to the characteristics of age, so that the information is assimilated and does not cause psychological discomfort, it is better to conduct individual lessons.
The specialist examines the oral cavity, notes the condition of the teeth and explains the causes of the problems.
If it is difficult to organize individual lessons, then you can divide the children into same-sex groups. Before teaching, the lecturer needs to understand the level of literacy in the field of oral hygiene, this can be done by conducting an examination or questionnaire.
After an examination or questionnaire, the specialist fills in the gaps in knowledge, focuses the teenagers’ attention on the importance of proper care, and explains what negligence leads to.
From 15 to 18
Teenagers are able to take care of their oral cavity independently. For cleaning, you can already use pastes and brushes for adults.
The task of parents is to periodically monitor the teenager, control should be carried out not only over timely care, but also over regular visits to the dentist for preventive purposes.
Training in hygiene rules at this age is carried out as for adults.
Standard cleaning method
The standard cleaning method is used for healthy elements of the jaw row and gums twice a day for three minutes.
Teeth are divided into three sections- front row, small molars (premolars) and large molars (molars). The mouth is open and the brush is at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the teeth. Cleaning is done from left to right, first the top row then the bottom row.
Performs 10 sweeping movements in each department, With inside the movements are repeated. To clean molars and premolars, move the brush back and forth in 15 movements on one side of the jaw.
Finish with a massage of the gums, soft in a circular motion, grasping the gums, with teeth closed.
The video presents Additional Information about the choice of products, devices and teeth cleaning.
conclusions
Oral care does not take much time and should be a good habit for everyone. Having learned regular care, you can avoid many problems and maintain beauty.
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One person said: if you sow a habit, you will reap character and destiny. One of the most good habits Something that needs to be instilled starting from early childhood, and which undoubtedly has an impact on a person’s entire life, is proper dental and oral care. After all, only these skills can provide a child with healthy, beautiful and strong teeth, saving him from many medical and social problems.
The very beginning
You need to start taking care of the condition of children’s teeth already at the stage of pregnancy. The quality of the tissues from which teeth are formed, and therefore health and appearance teeth, directly depend on how fully the mother supplied her baby with vitamins, minerals (fluorine, phosphorus, calcium), proteins and other necessary substances during the period of intrauterine development. A balanced diet during pregnancy eliminates up to 50% of all possible problems with teeth that a child may develop in the first years of life. Therefore, the diet expectant mother should be enriched with the substances necessary for the baby from fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat products. Additional benefits come from taking special multivitamins for pregnant women.
Another important factor influencing the condition of the baby’s dental tissues is the pregnant woman’s intake of medications: some medicines have a direct damaging effect on the buds of teeth, and therefore you should refrain from taking these drugs during pregnancy. Doctors know exactly which drugs give such by-effect and are not prescribed to pregnant women. Therefore, before starting to take any medication, a pregnant woman should always consult with her doctor.
From birth to 1 year
After the birth of a child, oral care becomes even more specific. From 3 months until the eruption of the first 7-8 milk teeth (usually this number of teeth is present in one year old baby) dental hygiene procedures should consist of regular (after each meal, approximately 30 minutes) cleaning of the gums, tongue and teeth from accumulated plaque. This can be done using a piece of gauze soaked in boiled water and wrapped around the mother’s finger, or using a special finger toothbrush (a silicone product with soft protrusions that safely cleans the oral cavity). It is unnecessary to use toothpaste at this age, as it will simply be eaten by the child, which can be dangerous.
There are also special children's brushes from the Pierrot brand, which can be used by babies from 6 months - Toothbrush"Children's room." Its extra-soft bristles with rounded ends gently and gently clean baby's baby teeth, and the ergonomic handle fits perfectly into baby's hands.
The nature of nutrition has a significant impact on the condition of teeth in a child under 1 year of age. Need child's body in vitamins and minerals in the first 6 months is perfectly covered by breast milk - the optimal food product for children of this age. Children who receive breast milk during the first six months have fewer dental problems throughout their lives. After 6 months, it is necessary to pay special attention to the process of introducing complementary foods, controlling the nature, quality and quantity of food, and the degree of its usefulness for the baby’s body. Adults need to learn to restrain the urge to treat their child with something sweet and tasty - sweets and confectionery products are completely devoid of substances necessary for the child of this age and, in addition, have a direct damaging effect on the enamel of baby teeth.
From 1 year to 6-7 years
Once a child is one year old and has 7-8 baby teeth in his mouth, oral care moves to the next level. The most important event of this period is the purchase of the first toothbrush and the baby getting used to it. A child's first toothbrush must meet several requirements. First of all, it must be a brush specially created by the manufacturer to care for the baby teeth of a child over 1 year of age (all toothbrushes produced by reputable companies have the appropriate markings).
Children's brushes always have a small head, the length of which does not exceed the width of 2-2.5 baby teeth. The bristles on a child's brush should only be synthetic, and very soft, so that in the process of brushing the baby's teeth he does not damage his gum mucosa. For example, Spanish TM Pierrot brushes use very soft bristles with rounded (not cut) tips, which are made from a special material TYNEX.
A child's toothbrush should be replaced at least once every 1.5-2 months, and more often if necessary. As the child grows, the size and configuration of the toothbrush should change to accommodate the child's changing anatomy and physiology. Teeth brushing should be done twice daily under the supervision and active participation of a parent.
Up to 1.5-2 years of age, using toothpaste (even specially created for children) is not recommended, since the child does not yet know how to rinse his mouth. After the child masters the rinsing process (this usually happens at the age of 2-2.5 years), you can add a special children's toothpaste to the dental care process. It is not recommended to use adult toothpaste, since it contains a large amount of fluoride and a number of components (abrasive particles, bleaching agents, flavoring additives) that may be harmful to a child, especially considering that a child under 6 years of age eats approximately 30-40% of toothpaste used. In addition, an adult toothpaste, being more aggressive than children's, can damage the developing enamel of children's teeth.
For children, it is better to use a children's paste with an improved taste (many mint additives are too aggressive). For example, Pierrot paste “PIVI with strawberry flavor Ca+F”, additional content of fluoride and calcium. These additives help counteract superficial caries, which often begins to develop on the front surface of baby teeth as early as 2 years of age.
It is necessary to teach a child how to brush their teeth independently at the age of 2-3 years, using game techniques that make it easier to understand and remember the sequence of actions when performing hygiene procedures.
For those kids who completely refuse to learn how to brush their teeth, the Pierrot brand offers “Vampire” brushes that glow in the dark. Therefore, the process of brushing your teeth can be turned into a fun game.
Toothpaste, in the amount indicated on the tube, should be applied to the toothbrush by an adult family member - you should not trust this important task to a preschooler. It is not recommended for young children to brush their teeth with electric toothbrushes - these devices can be used at a more conscious age, after a solid acquisition of oral care skills and only after a complete change of all baby teeth.
In general, children under 6 years of age are not recommended to use mouthwash (dental rinse). If necessary, preschoolers can use rinses (under adult supervision!) that do not contain fluoride and alcohol, which have only a deodorizing effect, using no more than 5 ml of solution per use. For example, Pierrot children's mouthwash "PIVI".
As an alternative to such two-step oral care, you can use a product developed on the “2 in one” principle, for example Pierrot Gel “PIVI 2in1” (at the same time preserving the properties of toothpaste and rinse aid). It also contains fluorine and calcium in quantities optimal for children, and tastes good.
It should be noted that all products of this brand have a quality certificate from the Society of Hygienists of Spain, which confirms very high level product quality.
To teach a child preschool and younger school age To brush your teeth correctly, special tablets, chewing gum and solutions have been developed that, when they enter the oral cavity, stain the remaining plaque that was not removed during brushing.
Duration of teeth brushing childhood should be at least 3 minutes - some parents buy special chronometers to learn this skill (for example, hourglass), which help the baby navigate time.
An absolutely essential component of dental care is regular visit dentist, because baby teeth can also get sick. In addition to examining and performing therapeutic and preventive procedures, pediatric dentist will definitely give advice on the rules of oral care, drawing the attention of parents to points that are important specifically for their child.
In the preschool period, the nature of the food consumed becomes especially important. Parents need to not only establish proper nutrition at home, but also monitor what their child “snacks” between meals. Adults should understand that all kinds of snacks, chips and lollipops, so loved by children and their grandmothers, are the most faithful accomplices of caries, ensuring undesirably frequent meetings with the dentist. The same goes for sweet carbonated drinks. And vice versa - milk, dairy products, as well as solid fruits and vegetables (strengthening the ligaments of the teeth) are our friends and helpers in the noble cause of strengthening the health (including dental health) of our children.
Children who have learned to rinse their mouths on their own must be taught the need to perform this procedure after every meal (including after “snacks”). Rinse your mouth with boiled warm water, vigorously shaking the water in your mouth for 1 minute.
Children over 7 years old and teenagers
At this age, it is necessary to strengthen and improve children’s ability to care for their teeth and oral cavity. Even after the child has mastered all the necessary steps, parents should personally supervise the teeth brushing process at least 1-2 times a week. Studies have shown that this tactic, applied to children and adolescents, reduces the incidence of caries by half.
A seven-year-old child can brush their teeth with adult toothpaste, which is applied to the brush in a drop no larger than the size of a pea. Over time, the amount of paste increases, reaching a full adult dose in adolescence (the paste covers the entire surface of the bristles).
For those children who have problems with bite, often accompanied by gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), it is better to use propolis-based toothpaste, for example Pierrot TM Propolis toothpaste. If beekeeping products seem unpleasant to your student, invite him to try TM Pierrot green tea toothpaste, containing green tea, papaya, oil tea tree. These components will help reduce the risk of developing gum disease. Another alternative is Pierrot toothpaste with Aloe Vera, containing healing aloe extract. This toothpaste is an excellent option for children and adolescents with gingivitis and frequent stomatitis.
A toothbrush for a schoolchild should be selected according to age; the bristles should be either soft or medium soft.
The shape of the working surface of the brushes can be different. Trademark Pierrot for teenagers (and their parents) offers toothbrushes with a working surface of a wide variety of configurations. For example, a brush with inclined bristles and an active tip, for adequate cleaning of the outer teeth of the dentition, a brush with cross bristles, which allow better cleaning of the interdental spaces, brushes with a flexible head. In short, you can choose the most optimal option.
At the age of 12, the last baby teeth fall out, after which the child can switch to using adult toothbrushes. Then you can allow your son or daughter to use an electric toothbrush, carefully monitoring, at first, the quality of hygiene procedures.
The use of rinses (elixirs) to maintain fresh breath is permitted, provided that it is an elixir specially created for children and adolescents. For teenagers, elixirs that do not contain alcohol are perfect: Anti-plaque rinse TM Pierrot, which effectively helps eliminate soft plaque and Pierrot Sensitive - rinse for sensitive teeth. The amount of liquid used at a time should not exceed 5-10 ml.
Recommendations on visiting the dentist and eating habits remain relevant at this age. Parents' attention should be drawn to bad breath, which persists despite the absence of caries and high-quality dental care. Bad breath in children is often caused by dental plaque, which cannot always be removed with a toothbrush - in this situation a qualified professional is required. dental care. Parents of teenagers need to pay special attention to bad habits, especially smoking. It is necessary to explain to the child that nicotine, tobacco tar and other substances contained in tobacco smoke, have an extremely detrimental effect on all organs of the human body, including teeth, and that a smoker cannot count on a snow-white smile and fresh breath.
Chewing gum can be used as an additional means of protecting teeth from caries. It can be used in situations where a toothbrush, toothpaste or mouthwash is out of reach. According to modern dentists, the duration of chewing should not exceed 15 minutes - that is, after the taste disappears, the chewing gum should be disposed of.
Finally.
To make your choice easier, try to pay attention to the following points:
- Toothpaste and brush should be appropriate for the age category your child falls into.
- The bristles on the brush should be synthetic and soft.
- The handle of the toothbrush should be comfortable for use by a child of a certain age (this is especially true for children under 7 years old).
You should also pay attention to the presence of a product quality certificate from the manufacturer, and the compliance of the products with European quality standards ISO 9001Quality Certificate.
A few minutes spent daily on oral care increases our self-esteem, improves our health and gives the bonus of a snow-white smile. By teaching your child how to properly brush their teeth as a child, you will prevent the development of gum disease and premature tooth loss, thereby providing him with an invaluable service for which he will be grateful to you all his life. Take care of your health!
Author: dentist of the second category of the Ukrainian-Swiss clinic “Portselyan” Imshenetskaya Maria LeonidovnaParents and dentists often ask the same questions: when to start brushing a child’s teeth, why, and, of course, with what? These are not all the questions, but it is this list of questions that arises first.
Why brush a small child's teeth?
No matter how absurd it may sound, there is a category of parents who are sure that their child does not need to brush his teeth at all, or start brushing at a certain age, usually from three years old. There is a universal expression to justify parents - “ Baby teeth will still fall out!“But baby teeth can hurt, and tooth decay occurs much faster compared to adult teeth.
Correct and timely oral hygiene is the most best prevention caries, which gives good results. The main reason for the development of caries is plaque on the teeth, which contains microorganisms that cause caries. When brushing your teeth, this plaque is removed, therefore, the main cause is removed.
Parents should remember that a carious tooth is a constant source of pathogens in the oral cavity, which can spread throughout the body. Inflammatory diseases of the throat - sore throat - are especially common. A damaged tooth can no longer participate in the act of chewing food, which can cause work to suffer. gastrointestinal tract and etc.
Brushing baby teeth is necessary not only to maintain dental health, but also for prevention. inflammatory diseases oral mucosa, such as stomatitis. If a child is taught to brush his teeth in a timely manner, this will only have a positive impact on the development of the child’s general hygiene skills.
When should you start brushing your child's teeth?
There are two answers to this question; dentists are divided on this issue. One group of dentists claims that it is necessary to brush a child’s teeth from the first tooth that emerges; the second group of dentists claims that it is necessary to start brushing teeth before teething, about a couple of months in advance. Parents themselves must decide which point of view to adhere to; each opinion has the right to exist.
According to the opinion about brushing teeth before teething, this technique has its advantages. Firstly, the baby will get used to such procedures, and by the time teething, there will be no problems with cleaning. Secondly, such manipulation at the time of teething performs two functions, directly cleaning and massaging the inflamed gums. But there are also disadvantages: not all babies like touching the gum mucosa during teething, when inflammation and itching in the gums begins. Such manipulations can cause unpleasant sensations and even pain.
According to this technique, you need to start brushing your teeth a couple of months before teething. As a rule, teething begins around six months of the baby's life. Therefore, it is necessary to start cleaning from approximately 3 to 4 months.
According to the second opinion, which most dentists adhere to, it is necessary to start brushing a child’s teeth with the first erupted tooth. It is worth recalling that a tooth is considered to have erupted if it has emerged from under the gum with at least one cusp or edge. Parents may face some problems at this point. After all, the child’s gums are inflamed, and any careless touch can cause pain.
There is no significant difference according to which recommendation to start brushing; it is important to start it no later than the first erupted tooth. In addition to general inflammation of the gums, local immunity in the oral cavity suffers, and the mucous membrane becomes vulnerable to microbial and viral agents. This circumstance can explain the frequent inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane - stomatitis and gingivitis.
How to brush your child's teeth?
Oral hygiene items include toothbrushes, but for small children there are their own special toothbrushes - fingertips, or you can use dental wipes.
Parents do not face any difficulties when using dental wipes; they are easy to use. Dental wipes can be of two types, simple wipes, or wipes made in the shape of a fingertip.
Almost all dental wipes are impregnated with a special substance – xylitol. This substance is absolutely safe for the baby and is necessary for antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity.
Xylitol is a polyhydric alcohol that has a pleasant taste; it is often used as a sweetener. In addition, wipes can be of different flavors, which makes the process of brushing your teeth attractive. The only disadvantage of such napkins is their high cost, since such napkins can only be used once. But such napkins are very convenient to use on trips, when there is simply no way to perform oral hygiene.
It is necessary to brush the child’s teeth and mucous membranes of the oral cavity twice a day, in the morning, after the baby eats, especially if the child receives artificial nutrition. And at night, after dinner. It is worth following an important rule: after eating, you must wait at least half an hour, and only then start cleaning, otherwise the child may be provoked to regurgitate or vomit.
Before cleaning, parents should wash their hands thoroughly. When brushing teeth, the child should be in a reclining position and be calm; it is not recommended to brush the teeth of a child who is tired or simply overexcited. Parents should place a napkin on their finger and gently clean the child’s oral cavity with wiping movements. If it was decided to start brushing teeth even before teething, then special emphasis should be given to the baby’s cheeks.
The second possible option is finger toothbrushes. Such toothbrushes are made mainly of silicone, and the working surface can be different - ribbed, or consist of bristles. The toothbrush is very soft and cannot harm either the delicate enamel of an erupting tooth or the child’s inflamed gums.
There is no particular fundamental difference in what surface to choose; the selection criterion should be the child’s choice, how exactly the baby will react to new item hygiene. Some kids like ribbed brushes, others with bristles. The technique of brushing your teeth is similar to the technique of brushing your teeth with dental wipes. Also, such toothbrushes can be used as a massager.
Care for such a toothbrush must be appropriate; microorganisms can remain in the villi or on the ribbed surface of the brush and multiply safely. The situation is especially dangerous when, after inflammatory or infectious diseases The finger toothbrush was not replaced with a new one. Before and after each brushing of your teeth, the finger toothbrush should be thoroughly rinsed under running water. This hygiene item needs to be changed approximately every 2 to 3 months.
If it is not possible to use a finger toothbrush, you can resort to using old, proven “old-fashioned” methods, namely a gauze swab. You must forget about cotton swabs, and under no circumstances use them when treating the oral cavity. Firstly, cotton wool does not have a natural roughness, and secondly, cotton wool fibers can remain in the child’s mouth. The ideal and only possible option is a gauze swab. There is no need to create a complex structure made of bandage or gauze. It is enough to simply wrap several layers of bandage around the parent’s finger. Before processing, the gauze swab must be pre-moistened for better glide.
My child refuses to brush his teeth, what should I do?
Teeth brushing does not always go smoothly; quite often parents are faced with a child’s categorical refusal to brush their teeth. But this is not a reason to give up brushing your teeth and put it off for a long time. Instincts are already pre-programmed in the baby’s nature, so if you start brushing your teeth even before teething, the baby’s so-called ejection reflex is triggered. With the tongue, the baby pushes out everything that does not resemble the taste of the mixture or breast milk. The reflex fades away during the introduction of complementary foods, by six months.
The second reason why a child refuses to brush their teeth is fear. discomfort or pain. This picture is typical for those toddlers who in the past experienced pain from brushing their teeth. Usually parents say that they used to brush their baby’s teeth without problems, but then problems arose. Solving this problem is difficult, but still possible. You shouldn’t wait for a certain period of time until the baby forgets - he won’t forget! It is necessary to show the little one that it does not hurt. Cleaning intervals should be short, initially it may simply be stroking a small area of the gum. Gradually these intervals increase.
From a certain age, from about 10 to 11 months, babies begin to imitate their parents and become aware of how their lives are going, this is especially noticeable when the baby turns one year old. At this time, the kids simply repeat everything after their parents. This age is considered the most favorable for teaching a child hygiene skills. You need to show the baby by example that you need to brush your teeth, and how exactly to do it. If your child wants to try brushing his teeth on his own, don’t limit him!
In addition, it is worth remembering that children perceive everything best in the form of play, including brushing their teeth. Parents need to come up with their own game and play with brushing teeth. For example, come up with a fairy tale or a little counting rhyme. And repeat it every time you brush your teeth.
Toothpaste, is it necessary?
This is perhaps the most pressing question: is toothpaste necessary for a child under one year old? Some manufacturers produce kits: a special toothbrush and the first toothpaste. These toothpastes meet all the requirements and are safe for children to swallow.
Pastes from 0 – 3 months are gel toothpastes that are not abrasive (rough), but perfectly clean the child’s mouth and teeth due to surfactants. Such pastes also contain some lactic enzymes, lysozyme - a natural antiseptic found in saliva, and so on. Children's toothpastes have a pleasant milky or fruity taste, which does not cause the child to refuse to brush their teeth. Dentists recommend using milk-flavored pastes for babies under six months old, or for those toddlers who have not yet introduced complementary foods. For babies after six months, you can use toothpastes with fruit flavors.
The dentist and parents should decide whether a child needs toothpaste. To successfully resolve the issue, it is necessary to take into account the child’s desire to brush his teeth, of course, his age, the degree of plaque formation and the type of feeding.
So, if a child develops plaque rather quickly, then the paste simply needs to be used. But if the baby is breastfed and practically no plaque forms, then just a brush pre-moistened in water will be enough for cleansing. Parents must follow certain rules regarding pastes. When using the toothpaste for the first time, you simply need to lubricate the toothbrush with a thin layer of toothpaste. And to track the child’s reaction, quite often, children react violently to a new taste and refuse to cleanse - this is not an indicator. Only after several attempts, and accordingly, a categorical refusal, the toothpaste needs to be changed to a different taste. If the child accepts such brushing, then the amount of toothpaste should be increased gradually, and this amount should not exceed a small pea - this is quite enough for effective brushing of teeth.
1. Toothbrushes for children
Toothbrushes like manual ones, and preventive. Among children's toothbrushes, hygienic ones predominate. We recommend using electric toothbrushes for children from the age of eight. Children's electric prophylactic brushes are not represented on our market at all. The main purpose of using toothbrushes is to maximize effective removal dental plaque. However, due to the fact that during the period of maturation of tooth enamel after the eruption of their crowns, in order not to disturb the surface layers, it is recommended to use toothbrushes only with soft bristles (the second type of bristle hardness used in toothbrushes). Also, the tips of the bristles of baby brushes should be rounded and polished. Currently, there are three types of children's toothbrushes - for children up to 2 years old, for children up to 6 years old and up to 8 years old, which is commensurate with the size of the brush head according to the age of the child. In general, the entire brush design must meet the basic requirement - i.e. be safe for the user.
Therefore, special importance is attached to the absence of sharp edges, corners, surfaces - a children's toothbrush should be completely atraumatic for all organs and tissues of the oral cavity; correspond as closely as possible to the size of the head of the oral cavity, and the size of the brush field to the size of children's teeth. In addition, the “outer” parts of the baby brush, i.e. those parts of the brush that are outside the mouth during brushing should be atraumatic for the lips and other facial tissues, fit comfortably in the child’s hand and be absolutely atraumatic for the skin of the child’s hand. Models of children's toothbrushes in which the handle is made in the form of a multidimensional cartoon character or any animal are completely unacceptable. a huge amount sharp corners that easily injure the skin of the hand, causing pain. Such brushes are only suitable for a museum or display window decoration, but not for use. In no case should the child associate the procedure of brushing teeth with any unpleasant or, especially, painful sensations.
2. Toothpastes for children
Currently, preference is given to fluorine-containing pastes with reduced content fluoride ions in them. On average, in toothpastes intended for children under 4 years of age, the fluoride content should not exceed 500 ppm. This is also due to the fact that children swallow up to 30% of the paste during the hygiene procedure.
The following points should be understood: in places of residence with a high and high content of fluorine compounds (1.5 or more mg/l) in drinking water sources, fluoride-containing pastes should not be used at all. In high concentrations, fluorine is poisonous and dangerous; one of the manifestations of long-term consumption of fluoride compounds internally is the development of the disease - fluorosis.
In places where drinking water sources do not contain fluoride compounds and other trace elements, toothpaste with fluoride can become the only source. Therefore, if children swallow fluoride toothpaste, then there is nothing to fear - thereby, they at least somehow fill the body's need. Only oral consumption of fluoride compounds leads to the formation of a stable compound called fluorapatite, which significantly strengthens tooth enamel.
Not all fluoride compounds included in toothpastes act equally.
In descending order of activity they should be placed as follows: amino fluoride, tin fluoride, sodium fluoride (NaF), sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluorophosphate (Na2PO3F). Fluoride compounds are capable of forming a surface protective layer on the tooth. This layer consists of calcium fluoride (CaF2). Aminofluoride creates a highly stable protective layer, sodium monofluorophosphate forms a relatively easily washed off protective layer, NaF forms an unstable layer, and Na2PO3F does not form it at all. In addition, fluorine disrupts the metabolism of bacteria, thereby acting as an antibacterial agent. In turn, a decrease in the number of bacteria leads to a decrease in the amount of acids they produce, therefore, an acid attack on hard tissues teeth will be less intense. From this position, we can also consider them as an anti-caries and anti-inflammatory agent.
IN Lately V toothpastes, designed for baby teeth, the pH of the medium is significantly shifted to the acidic side and is less than 5.5. This phenomenon is due to the fact that, as studies have shown, recent years, in an acidic environment, fluoride ions penetrate much more easily into the hard tissues of primary teeth and promote remineralization processes, thereby preventing demineralization processes.
To prevent children from eating toothpaste as a treat, fruit flavors, such as raspberries and strawberries, are used less and less often. Recently, preference has been given to a neutral mint flavor, which not only deodorizes well, but also does not cause the urge to swallow the paste.
3. Liquid oral hygiene products for children
Assortment of liquid products oral hygiene for children is very limited and, first of all, due to the fact that until the age of six, a child simply cannot be taught to rinse his mouth. This is due to the fact that the formation of specific reflexes occurs at a certain time. It is at six years and older, depending on mental development child, his ability to rinse his mouth is manifested. This partly explains the significantly smaller number of liquid GPR products for children offered on the market. All liquid SGPR for children are produced on a non-alcoholic basis, i.e. they do not use alcohol as a preservative; more often they are antiseptics with pronounced antibacterial properties, such as triclosan and cetylperidium chloride. Due to them, mouth rinses are also given antiplaque properties, i.e. the ability to prevent the formation and formation of soft plaque. At inflammatory processes It is also recommended to use solutions of herbs and plants prepared before use. In these cases, preference is given to baths rather than rinses.
4. Interdental hygiene products for children
Interdental hygiene products they are not produced separately for children, but since a child can and should use them, practice has shown that a 4-year-old child can easily learn to use dental floss, and it is not difficult to teach him this. Use of interdental SGPR with early age shows their great effectiveness in the prevention of caries and periodontal disease, and also confirms that it is much easier to develop a motivated approach to interdental care that lasts for life. The child can use almost all interdental SGPR ( flosses, tape, flossettes, brushes).
Lack of proper oral care is a short-term prospect for the development of caries and gum inflammation in children. Parents should understand that any toothpaste is dosage form, allowing you to influence the weak links in dental health, and a toothbrush is a hygiene item that allows you to achieve positive results. About the rules for choosing a toothbrush and paste, additional hygiene products for children of different ages- IllnessNews will tell.
It is necessary to brush your teeth 2 times a day - this is an axiom, but despite this, many parents still have a question - when to start introducing their child to daily procedures? Dentists unequivocally say - from the moment the first baby tooth appears in the oral cavity. The little ones need to brush their teeth with a special finger toothbrush, which is placed on the finger of the parents, who carry out the hygienic treatment. It has soft, silicone bristles that help gently cleanse teeth and gums of food debris and plaque buildup.
Choosing the right and most suitable toothpaste for children in the first year of life is more difficult, simply because dentists have not yet come to a consensus whether toothpastes should be used or not. But they clearly indicate the risk groups for whom the paste is recommended.
Expert commentary
Using toothpaste is a decision that parents make. If the baby is breastfed, then there is no need for toothpaste, because cavity protection can easily cope with aggressive influences. Another thing is when children receive artificial feeding.
The milk formula itself is an aggressive factor that can cause caries, gum inflammation, and stomatitis. There are other indications for the use of toothpaste in the youngest: heredity, if the parents have “bad teeth”, the child was born premature, early teething was noted (from 4 months), in the first year of life the baby suffered from diseases of both an infectious and somatic nature .
Brushing teeth with toothpaste in children from these risk groups will help reduce the likelihood of caries, gum inflammation and stomatitis.
Choosing toothpaste for children from 0 to 3 years old
Adapted toothpastes according to age, that is, from the first days of life, are safe for the baby’s delicate teeth, even if swallowed. The basis that carries out hygienic cleansing is enzymes, often dairy. It is for these reasons that pastes from “0-3” have a milky taste that is familiar to a child, therefore, the likelihood of refusal and whims is much less.
When choosing a toothpaste, you need to pay attention to the age label for which the toothpaste is intended. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the substances included in the composition: the paste must be free of dyes (can only contain food), flavorings, and hard abrasives - the RDA index (abrasiveness index) must be less than 40.
Expert commentary
Since toothpaste comes into contact with the oral mucosa, and part of it is generally swallowed during the brushing process, there should not be anything dangerous or harmful in the composition of the toothpaste. For different industries, be it the food or cosmetics industry, there are lists of substances permitted for use and their maximum permissible concentrations. However, some toothpastes may contain antiseptics and other components that make their regular use undesirable. It is best to refuse to use such products in favor of alternative options - pastes with enzymes or extracts medicinal herbs, minerals. It is recommended to replace toothpastes with fluoride with those containing bioavailable calcium compounds, as they promote enamel remineralization.
Bioactive toothpaste SPLAT BABY apple - banana, from 0 to 3 years
Hypoallergenic toothpaste for babies, safe even if accidentally swallowed. Patented and active system Based on Japanese licorice, it safely and effectively removes caries-forming flora. The calcium hydroxyapatite introduced into the composition intensively strengthens the enamel and makes it more resistant to the aggressive effects of acids. Extracts medicinal plants will help cope with gum inflammation in such difficult period teething.
PRESIDENT Baby from 0 to 3 years
The unique formula is absolutely safe if accidentally swallowed; it does not contain fluorides, preservatives or dyes. The active composition of the paste promotes the breakdown of biofilm and neutralizes the effect of acids secreted by caries-forming bacteria. The pleasant taste of the paste (raspberry) helps stimulate interest in brushing teeth in young children.
Personal experience
As soon as our daughter was born, we started thinking about how to keep our teeth healthy. The hereditary factor and low mineral content in drinking water put Arina at risk. We started brushing our teeth from the very first eruption using toothpaste.
Difficulties arose during this period. With some toothpastes, the daughter simply flatly refused to brush her teeth, spat out the toothpaste, pushed the brush out with her tongue, and became capricious. On the advice of the dentist, we changed the paste and began to look for the most suitable taste. Arina liked the paste with a milky taste, then raspberries were appreciated, and she also does not refuse to brush her teeth with banana paste.
Literally after two or three brushings of her teeth, Arisha herself ran to the bathroom and tried to get a brush and toothpaste. Brushing your teeth takes place with pleasure and attempts to act independently.
As a mother, I was worried that the too tasty paste would be swallowed, but by strictly following the dentist's recommendations (use a small pea-sized amount of paste), all my fears turned out to be in vain.
Children grow, develop, and their diet changes; therefore, their toothbrush and toothpaste must change. For the first time, in this age group, dentists can recommend additional hygiene care products according to indications: dental floss, rinses, and in the presence of orthodontic structures - special toothbrushes, brushes, etc.
How to choose a toothbrush?
- bristle. It should be artificial and for children under 3 years old - soft, with 3-12 medium hardness, which is indicated by the appropriate marking;
- working head size. Labeling by age usually implies the most optimal size working head, ideally, when applying the brush to the cheek surface, the head should cover 2-2.5 teeth. This is the size that will ensure optimal teeth cleaning;
- toothbrush handle. The developers take into account the developmental features of the baby’s hands. It is still difficult for young children to hold small and thin objects in their hands, so the handle of the toothbrush should be thick and rubberized so that it does not slip while brushing their teeth;
- shock absorbing spring. The design of a toothbrush for everyone should have devices for a shock-absorbing moment - this could be a spring at the transition from the handle to the working head, more pliable plastic in this place, which will prevent excessive pressure on the teeth and gums.
As an addition, to stimulate interest in brushing teeth, toothbrushes can have multi-colored bristles, an interesting handle shape in the shape of a cartoon character, beautiful, bright colors or glitter.
To help parents and to indicate when to change the toothbrush, it may have indicator bristles that will tell you when it is necessary to change the brush, because it can no longer provide the proper level of cleansing.
In addition, dentists remind you of the indications for changing a toothbrush: every 2-3 months, after infections, including stomatitis, regardless of the timing of changing the brush.
Toothbrush R.O.C.S. Kids for children from 3 to 7 years old
Soft bristles with thorough polishing provide gentle care for delicate teeth and sensitive gums. The arrangement of the bristles allows for better cleaning results, increasing its efficiency. Triangular shape bristles allows you to better clean the spaces between teeth - one of the favorite places for caries to form. The shape of the handle ensures a secure fit in the baby's hand, and interesting shape will open up a world of fantasy for your child.
Children's toothbrush with silver ions SPLAT BABY from 2 to 8 years
Soft and safe bristles for enamel, and its different levels allow the highest quality cleaning of caries-susceptible areas - fissures and contact surfaces. Silver ions have an antiseptic effect during cleaning and prevent the growth of bacteria on the toothbrush itself.
Elmex children's toothbrush, from 3 to 6 years
Toothbrush with soft bristles, special shape The bristles allow you to penetrate into the interdental spaces and massage the gums. The bristles have rounded ends, which eliminates mechanical damage to the enamel. The rubberized handle does not slip in the palm when brushing your teeth and absorbs pressure on the gums and teeth.
Toothpaste is a dosage form. And after three years the choice becomes even more difficult. Parents must choose between various forms of therapeutic and prophylactic toothpastes: anti-caries, anti-inflammatory, etc.
The main task of guiding children from 3 to 12:
- thoroughly clean the surface of the teeth from plaque and food debris, which is achieved through foaming elements and abrasives, the RDA index should be more than 70;
- remineralizing properties - the ability to saturate the enamel with minerals: calcium, phosphorus, fluorine. Parents should remember that calcium and phosphorus can be in one toothpaste (in a complex), but fluoride must be in a separate toothpaste, which must be used after the paste with calcium and phosphorus. Fluoride is the basis for the prevention of dental caries; its introduction into the crystal lattice of the enamel makes it stronger and less resistant to the aggressive action of acids;
- freshen breath;
- provide gum protection and anti-inflammatory effect due to the introduction of medicinal plant extracts into the paste.
- in the presence of diseases of the digestive tract and kidneys, anti-caries pastes with a high abrasiveness index are recommended for effective cleansing teeth from forming dental plaque;
- When early caries forms, dentists recommend pastes with minerals (calcium, phosphorus, fluorine), alternating them with each other. The cleaning ability of the paste is no less important;
- for frequent inflammatory gum diseases, stomatitis, children are recommended to use toothpastes with extracts of medicinal plants.
The composition of toothpaste for older children may differ from the composition of children's: the introduction of fluorides, which are prohibited up to three years of age, surfactants, parabens, the introduction of antiseptic components and many others, which cause a lot of fears and worries among parents; pseudo-studies, sensations and discoveries.
Expert commentary
All toothpastes can be divided into:
- hygienic - the task of which is to clean plaque and deodorize the oral cavity;
- therapeutic and prophylactic, which in addition to performing the listed functions, contain components to reduce the risk of caries, lightening, anti-inflammatory and other components.
The toothpaste base must contain an abrasive system, which can be a cleaning or polishing abrasive or complex abrasive systems that include two or more abrasives with different characteristics, such as hardness and particle shape. Silicon oxides or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate are usually used as abrasives. In addition to the abrasive, any paste includes a moisture retainer, usually represented by polyhydric alcohols (glycerin, sorbitol), so that the paste does not dry out, and a gelling agent (gum and cellulose) to increase organoleptic properties. Added surface additives contribute to increasing the anti-plaque properties of the paste. active substances, adding foaminess to the product formula. This component can be either sodium lauryl sulfate or cocamidopropyl betaine (otherwise known as a “green surfactant”). It is desirable that the manufacturer’s assortment includes formulations with both components, since some people perceive cocamidopropyl betaine as bitter. To give a pleasant taste, various aromatic compositions, such as lemon balm, are added to the paste.
As an active remineralizing support, it is advisable to use bioavailable calcium salts, such as calcium glycerophosphate, in pastes. To normalize the plaque microflora, xylitol can be added; it reduces plaque adhesion, leaving teeth clean and smooth for a long time.
In addition to all of the above, in the composition of modern toothpastes you can see a huge variety of different active ingredients, vitamins, extracts, essential oils and enzymes that can successfully compete with antiseptics in their anti-inflammatory effect.
R.O.C.S. Kids, berry fantasy, for children 4-7 years old
When developing a paste with raspberry and strawberry flavors, we took into account age characteristics. The pleasant taste will stimulate interest in brushing your teeth. The paste does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, RDA index 45, hypoallergenic.
Toothpaste R.O.C.S. TEENS Chocolate mousse, for children 8-18 years old
Thanks to the enzymatic-mineral patented complex, the paste has an anti-caries effect. The basis of cleansing is the use of enzymes, not abrasives. The paste formula does not contain fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, or parabens.
Bioactive toothpaste SPLAT, berry cocktail, for children 6-11 years old
A special cleaning system based on silicon dioxide effectively removes plaque and protects teeth from caries. Due to the introduction of calcium compounds, the enamel is strengthened. The pleasant taste and recommendations of Fixies stimulate interest in brushing teeth.
Bioactive paste SPLAT, fruit ice cream for children 2-6 years old
The work of the oral cavity in adolescents has its own characteristics: the effect of hormones and adolescence cause the development of a special form of gum inflammation - juvenile gingivitis. The presence of orthodontic structures also increases the risk of developing inflammatory gum diseases and caries.
Properly selected hygiene products and items will help reduce risks and prevent the development of oral diseases.
Toothbrushes
Toothpastes for teenagers
Parents can choose from three main types of toothpastes:
- anti-caries toothpastes. Even after teething, the maturation of enamel continues, which requires minerals: calcium, phosphorus, fluorine;
- anti-inflammatory toothpastes containing extracts and decoctions of medicinal plants: chamomile, sage, aloe vera, propolis, etc. These substances can have an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibit the growth and development of pathogenic bacteria;
- Whitening toothpastes are a separate conversation in oral care products. It is not recommended to use whitening toothpastes in children under 14-16 years of age. And even in this case, it is necessary to take into account the rules for their use.
Any of these pastes will be recommended in each specific case, depending on the condition of the oral cavity: for severe juvenile gingivitis, pastes with anti-inflammatory activity are recommended, and in the presence of orthodontic structures, pastes containing minerals and high abrasive activity are recommended.
In addition, during adolescence, individual self-esteem is formed and it is important for a teenager to feel confident when communicating with peers. To smile without embarrassment, teenagers want white teeth and fresh breath. Dentists do not recommend resorting to chemical whitening before the age of 18, so it is better to choose products with mild enzymatic whitening.
SPLAT Smilex toothpastes for children over 12 years old
Explosive cola and juicy lime are new flavors of toothpastes for children over 12 years old. New products from SPLAT freshen breath well, gently clean and brighten enamel, have an antibacterial effect and reduce the formation of plaque. The formula contains natural plant extracts and the patented enzyme LUCTATOL ®. With such pastes, your smile will always be radiant and radiant!
Toothpaste, LACALUT “White”
The paste contains minerals and fluorides to compensate for the aggressive effects of whitening components. RDA index 120, which proves that the paste is highly abrasive. The whitening effect is achieved by dissolving and removing dental plaque and pigment plaque.
Toothpaste PRESIDENT “White Plus”
The toothpaste contains abrasive and polishing components, RDA index 200. Such indicators indicate a high effectiveness profile of the paste, but it can be used no more than once a week, otherwise it will cause more harm than good.
