Brushing your Teeth and the Importance of Starting Early
We all know the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. We also know that this is achieved through regular brushing, twice a day. What isn’t so obvious, however, is the fact that experts now believe that we should be brushing our teeth right from the point they first appear in babies to help avoid problems further down the line.
According to a report in Manila Bulletin, problems with permanent teeth may develop as a result of a failure to brush teeth from when they first emerge in babies in the form of milk teeth. It is often thought that there is little requirement to care for baby teeth as routinely as you would permanent teeth as a result of the fact that they child will lose them prior to adulthood.
Expert Advice
Brushing teeth at the earliest available opportunity may be instrumental in improving the condition of permanent teeth in later life and Dietmar Oesterreich of the German Dentist’s Chamber in Berlin states, “Parents should start brushing teeth when the first milk tooth breaks through,” – a belief he bases upon the fact that not enough young children are taken to the dentists and a large number of fillings are carried out on milk teeth each year.
Generally speaking, children’s teeth will begin to emerge at around 6 months and this is when parents should begin to brush their child’s teeth. It is important not to use adult toothpaste, of course, as this will be too strong for children of this age. By the time the child is two, it is a good time to introduce fluoride toothpaste and Dietmar Oesterreich states, “Fluoride is active primarily against caries on the surface of the teeth,” and, with regard to brushing teeth early in a child’s development, goes on to add, “The enamel on permanent teeth is particularly sensitive to bacterial attack during the breaking-through phase. It is still hardening.”
When it comes to your child’s dental care, it is important to discuss things thoroughly with your local dental specialist as they will be able to give help, advice and reassurance on how best to look after the teeth of your children.