Hey Moms, Dads, and Caregivers! Captain Supertooth here. February is Children’s Dental Health Month, and I am here to teach you a little bit about your little one’s toothbrush (and yours, too). If you brush the recommended amount – twice daily for at least two minutes per session – then you’ll be spending a lot of quality time with your toothbrush over the years. I guess you’d better get to know each other better!
1. Choose soft bristles over hard ones unless otherwise instructed by your dentist. Soft bristles move easier and can get between teeth. Hard bristles can make brushing hurt and may also cause pain in your gums.
2. If you are still using the toothbrush you used the morning of Labor Day, you’re definitely overdue for a new one. Toothbrushes need to be replaced when they get frayed and worn, which is typically every three months.
3. It may be tempting, but don’t chew on the toothbrush head. It shortens the life of the bristles.
4. Pick up your toothbrush right after a meal. It helps remove food that bacteria feed on while giving teeth a dose of fluoride right when they need it most.
5. Bedtime brushing might help you sleep better. Repeating a relaxing bedtime routine (including brushing your teeth, of course) eventually gets your body programmed to start winding down when you start the routine. Even if you don’t want to hit the sack early, it’s good for you!
While these are all very good tips to adopt, the important thing to remember is that brushing twice daily is a necessity, not an option if you want to keep your pearly whites for a lifetime!