Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes

In terms of cleaning, there is no major difference between using a manual or an electric toothbrush for your child. The brush is only as good as the person operating it, so teaching your child good oral health is important.

Sometimes, making brushing fun is in the details. Manual toothbrushes can have images on them of your child’s favourite cartoon character, or even just nice details they are attracted to. Electric toothbrushes can be much more elaborate and attractive – beyond images, they can light up, have the character on the brush say something encouraging, or play music for the length of time your child should be brushing. 

Other times, it could be flavour of the toothpaste or mouthwash that enhances the brushing experience. Essential information to pass on to your child is that it isn't how hard they brush their teeth, its how long.

When choosing a toothbrush look for bristles that are soft, and rounded. Make sure the handle portion of the brush is appropriate for your child’s hand. For electric, beyond those previously mentioned features look for a small rotating and oscillating head.

Let your child pick the toothbrush that they want to use, if you are using an electric one they may want to see what it is all about – but if they still prefer the manual one do not force the electric on them. Your child should be at least 3 years old before using an electric brush by themselves. You should always be supervising them as they brush.

Children & Thumb Sucking

As a natural habit for babies, thumb-sucking is routine for finding comfort and soothing themselves. During the first few months of life, this habit can be used as a way to fall asleep, to calm down or just to feel good. During these stages, sucking is considered harmless to a child’s speech development.

For most infants, thumb-sucking is an exploratory stage that ends after a few years, but for the ones who don't break the habit as they grow up, problems may begin to occur. 

The difference between an infant and a child thumb-sucking has to do with the formation of their mouth and teeth. As a child develops, the baby teeth are lost and permanent teeth begin to grow. If your child is still sucking their thumb beyond the age of 4, their likelihood of developing malocclusion (over/under bites), buck teeth, infections or other dental issues is increased.

How you can help reduce the habit & potential risks;

• Try to limit thumb-sucking to a “bed-time” activity only
• Do not tell your child “You cannot do this” - praise when they are not doing it instead of criticizing
• Talk to your child about the habit, and tell them when they are ready to stop you will be there for support.
• If your child has been injured and falls back to thumb-sucking for comfort, don’t prohibit the action as he is putting himself in a comfort zone.

• Try and come up with creative ways to help your child. For example; you can ask them if Dora the Explorer or Caillou suck their thumbs. This will put the idea in their mind, and start the ' i don’t need to do this anymore' process.

What to do in Case of an Accident or Pain?

As children grow up there are many things that can happen to their teeth. Here are some scenarios that your child may go through, and how to handle them.

Baby Tooth Knocked Out;

Baby teeth have a bigger crown (part of tooth that shows) than the root, so they are easier to be accidentally knocked out. If this happens, make sure you find to tooth to ensure it wasn't swallowed. The tooth may be able to be re-implanted by the dentist but if it was already loose because of the permanent tooth coming out, you are better off to leave it. To decide which is the best option always see the dentist. 

Bleeding Gums;

Can be caused by rough brushing, injuries to the gum tissue or gum disease. If you notice that your child’s gums are bleeding your first step is to rinse their mouth with a salt water mixture and put light pressure on the affected area, also a wet tea bag (the tannic acid) helps reduce bleeding. If gums are bleeding more heavily, make an appointment as soon as possible, or head to the emergency.

Bitten Lip or Tongue;

Apply pressure directly on the bleeding area with a gauze, or a clean cloth for at least 10 minutes. If any swelling is present, apply a cold compress. Any mouth injuries will usually heal within 3 to 4 days.

Teething Pain;

Teething pain occurs in the first two and a half years, and its most common symptoms include irritated skin on the chin or cheeks from excessive drool, tender gums, cheek rubbing or ear pulling, and crankiness. To help reduce the symptoms ensure you have rubber teething rings that can be chilled to help relieve pressure, gently rubbing your child's gums with your finger, and always keep a soft baby cloth to wipe away any drool.

Toothache;

if your child is having a toothache, use warm water as a rinse to wash out any debris that may be there. Gently floss their teeth to remove anything that may be trapped between teeth. l. Avoid medications that can be applied to the gums as the saliva will wash it away. If needed use Children's Advil or Tylenol.

Fighting Decay With Gum!

Fight decay with gum? Yes, you read that correctly. We've always been told not to chew gum, because it is sugary and not good for teeth. Nowadays we have gum that assists in whitening teeth, and better yet, gum that helps prevent tooth decay, reduce bacteria growth and helps repair enamel. 

The key ingredient you should be looking for when buying gum, is Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is derived from plant fibers. When you are selecting gum, take a look at the ingredient list on the back, it is usually listed in order of highest to lowest concentrated. In gum, Xylitol is used as a sweetener, look for it as the first ingredient

There is a bacteria that naturally occurs in your mouth which loves to feed on sugar, and when it does it breaks down into acids that wear away tooth enamel. Xylitol helps maintain a neutral pH level in your mouth as well as prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth, which is how it protects from tooth decay.

When you chew gum, you are stimulating saliva flow which in turn neutralizes those pesky acids that cause tooth decay. By reducing the level of bacteria and plaque, the gum helps to remineralize and strengthen weak teeth.

There are a variety of gums available with Xylitol as an ingredient, find one that you and your kids both enjoy.

How old should my child be before I give them gum?

Usually, children younger than at least 4 years old should not be given gum. Your child should completely understand that gum is something that is meant to be chewed only, and never swallowed.