Dental caries is the most prevalent or frequent disease in humans, which makes daily hygiene of our teeth and gums very important to avoid problems derived from it.
One of the most frequently asked questions in the dental clinics in the Region of Murcia en: when should we start brushing a baby's teeth?
The response of the dental professionals is simple: as soon as it has teeth.
Initially, hygiene should be carried out with a gauze dampened in water, with which to remove the remains of teeth, and also of the gum itself, to prevent them from being present in the mouth for too long.
Later, as the child gets more teeth and incorporates a greater number of foods into his or her diet, we should use paediatric toothbrushes (whose filaments are softer, and whose head is smaller), initially without toothpaste, and then with a children's toothpaste (their fluoride content is lower, and so is the foam they produce, to prevent them from feeling 'overwhelmed').
From 4-5 years of age, we should try to get the child to start acquiring oral hygiene habits on their own, supervising brushing until we are sure that they are brushing effectively after each meal for a minimum of two minutes.
In this respect, we can rely on children's oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes which, thanks to a timer, make children aware of when brushing time is over and they can rinse and continue playing, drawing... with the peace of mind of having their teeth fully brushed.
In any case, if parents have any doubts about the techniques to be used, or about the characteristics of their child's dentition, the best thing to do is to see your child's dentist. dental professional from 2-3 years of age, in order to avoid early caries, and to be able to propose specific hygiene habits for each child.
