At what age should babies start brushing their teeth?

As the baby grows, his teeth will gradually grow out and he will gradually come into contact with various foods. Eating food will inevitably bring certain bacteria into the mouth, so you need to brush your teeth. Generally speaking, parents can teach children to brush their teeth after all their deciduous teeth have erupted, which is around 2 and a half years old. Next, I will introduce you to some relevant knowledge about brushing your baby’s teeth.

1. How old should the baby be to brush his teeth?

Generally speaking, when a child is two and a half years old and all 20 deciduous teeth have erupted, you can start teaching the child to brush his teeth; around the age of three, the child should be encouraged to develop the habit of brushing his teeth in the morning and evening and rinsing his mouth after meals.

Brushing your teeth can not only clean your teeth and remove dental plaque, but also massage the gums, promote blood circulation in the gums, improve local nutrition and oxygen supply, facilitate tissue metabolism, and enhance the gums' resistance to disease. Therefore, brushing teeth is a good and effective way to maintain oral cleanliness and prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease.

2. Correct way to brush teeth for infants and young children

When brushing your teeth, you should include three tooth surfaces: the inner surface, the outer surface, and the horizontal chewing surface. Pay special attention to cleaning the back molars (lingual side) and upper molars (buccal side), as these are the areas most likely to be missed when brushing your baby's teeth.

In addition, you must adhere to the "three-two system" when brushing your teeth, that is, brush your teeth three times a day, and pay attention to the time before going to bed at night; the three surfaces of the teeth (cheek, tongue, and biting surface) must be brushed, and each time you brush your teeth, you must brush carefully and thoroughly for 3 minutes.

3. How to choose a toothbrush for infants and young children

1. The bristles should be soft and the brush head should be small so that it is easier to reach all the baby's teeth, including the innermost teeth.

2. The brush surface is flat and the top of the bristles are round so as not to scratch the baby's gums.

3. Adult toothbrushes are not suitable for young children because the brush head is too large and uncomfortable for babies to use. The bristles may also be too hard and will wear out the baby's teeth and gums.

4. Choose a toothbrush with a harder handle to maximize muscle motor skills.

5. Place the toothbrush vertically and keep it dry. Make sure the bristles of each toothbrush do not touch each other to prevent bacteria from being transferred from one toothbrush to another.

6. When the toothbrush becomes worn, for example, when the bristles become scattered, it is time to replace the toothbrush.

7. In any case, you should replace your toothbrush at least every 4 months, and be sure to replace your toothbrush after you are sick, because the old toothbrush may contain bacteria.