Children and Tooth Brushing
Regular tooth brushing and regular dental examinations are essential for good dental health
One of the most frequently asked questions we get asked is ‘when should I start brushing my child’s teeth and when should we visit the dentist?’ The answer is as soon as their first teeth come through which is usually around 6 months old. This is essential as it provides you as parents with support and education to help keep your children’s teeth and gums healthy. It also ensures tooth brushing becomes part of your child’s day to day routine. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day for a duration of 2minutes using a fluoride toothpaste.
Recommendations
At Marlow Dental Centre we recommend that children have regular dental examinations every 6 months. Examinations include staining of plaque, cleaning and tooth brushing instructions. Like adults children have a tendency to switch off when it comes to tooth brushing and don’t always have the manual dexterity to do it themselves. We advise that a parent should assist children when it comes to brushing to ensure that all the plaque has been removed.
Manual vs Electric toothbrush for children
There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing a manual or electric toothbrush as the most important thing is that children’s teeth are brushed thoroughly for two minutes, twice a day. When choosing a toothbrush we would recommend choosing one with a small head to reach the difficult areas at the back of the mouth and that it is medium to soft to avoid damage to the gums. Electric toothbrushes are recommended for children of all ages as they have built in timers and are more effective in plaque removal.
Fee
We offer free examinations up to the ages of 6 for registered patients and offer an affordable monthly payment plan for as little as £9.00 per month for children up to the age of 16!
The plan covers:
2 Dental Examination per year
1 Hygienist Consultation per year and necessary routine bitewing x-rays