A good set of teeth can last a lifetime, so protecting teeth should start from a young age.

When do you start brushing your teeth?

When a baby has not yet grown teeth, it is necessary to do a good job of cleaning the gums in daily life. After the baby sprouts their first tooth, it is necessary to clean the baby’s teeth.

However, the ideal is full, but the actual operation is very difficult.

Why?

Because the baby is young, he doesn’t cooperate!

As oral health is closely related to overall health, parents should not give up if their babies do not cooperate with brushing their teeth.

Let’s first analyze the reasons why the baby is not cooperating:

uncomfortable?

unaccustomed?

Did it hurt, little one?

Encouraging babies to cooperate in brushing their teeth is the responsibility of parents and also something they need to learn.

How to cultivate good oral hygiene habits for babies?

Step by step

Brushing teeth for babies is a gradual process, and parents first need to learn and master different brushing methods at different stages, including brushing tools, brushing positions, movements, etc.

At the beginning, parents should not rush to brush their baby’s teeth all at once. They can brush the front teeth first to help the baby adapt to brushing, and then gradually brush the back teeth.

Alternatively, teeth can be divided into four areas: top, bottom, left, and right. After brushing each area, the baby can rest and then brush the next area.

Pay attention to controlling the time of brushing teeth, allowing the baby to gradually adapt, at least 2-3 weeks, and gradually accept this after forming a lifestyle habit.

2. Cultivate Habits

Persist in brushing your teeth and make it a daily habit, just like washing your baby’s face every day, becoming an essential part of their life.

3 brushing positions

It is recommended to have two parents participate in brushing the baby’s teeth, in a knee to knee position.

Specific operation method:

Parents face each other and sit firmly in a knee to knee position, with the baby lying flat on the legs of both parents.

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One parent can fix the baby’s hands and legs, and the baby’s head can lie on another parent’s leg to brush their teeth.

Parents can interact and play games with their children while brushing their teeth in a knee to knee position, making brushing a part of parent-child time.

4 gentle movements

When brushing your baby’s teeth, do not be rough or cause pain.

The baby’s head should have support. Parents should hold a toothbrush with one hand and gently move the baby’s lips with the other hand to ensure that the parent’s vision can see the baby’s mouth clearly. Always place the toothbrush on the tooth surface to brush the teeth.

It is particularly important to emphasize that when parents brush their babies’ teeth, they must pay attention to protecting their labial frenulum to avoid damaging it during brushing, causing pain and refusing to cooperate with brushing.

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5 timing for brushing teeth

We all know that we need to brush our teeth in the morning and evening, and babies are no exception. However, parents can be flexible and not necessarily arrange for babies to brush their teeth late before bedtime.

Pay attention to your baby’s emotions. When your baby is tired, hungry, sick, or emotionally unstable, do not forcefully brush their teeth or force the effect of brushing.

6. Cultivate Interest

Parents prepare two toothbrushes, one for their baby to brush their teeth and the other for their baby.

Many babies like to grab a toothbrush and brush it themselves in the early stages. Parents can reach an agreement with their babies to brush it a few times and then help them finish.

In addition, read some picture books about brushing teeth to the baby and buy a toy doll for them to brush their teeth.

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After brushing their teeth each time, parents can let their baby lick the smooth surface of their teeth and look in the mirror at their own white and beautiful teeth, allowing the baby to enjoy the refreshing and comfortable feeling of brushing clean teeth.

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Finally, it is emphasized once again that:

The cultivation of brushing habits is not done in a day, it requires parents to put in a lot of patience. Don’t give up on brushing your baby’s teeth just because their child doesn’t cooperate. Only by persisting for a long time can you see changes in your child.