The best electric toothbrush for kids

The conversation has now shifted from whether kids should use an electric toothbrush to choosing the best electric toothbrush for kids.

Dentists are clear in their recommendation. An electric toothbrush has several benefits for even the youngest users. It helps make the teeth cleaning process more enjoyable and thus makes it easier for children to develop the habit of brushing their teeth.

So how do you find the best electric toothbrush for kids? There are certain things to keep in mind that are different from those that guide your adult shopping choices.

1. Children are easily scared

Electric toothbrushes can take a little getting used to. They vibrate, hum and make strange noises while you clean. And the sensation that occurs inside the mouth can be uncomfortable at first. Children are also more sensitive to nausea, which makes the experience of using an electric toothbrush more challenging.

Since their air ducts are smaller, children find larger brush heads more uncomfortable than adults. Gentle brushing and selecting the proper size brush heads are important steps in ensuring your children enjoy using an electric toothbrush. Remember, the goal is to get children to enjoy brushing their teeth and maintaining oral hygiene.

2. Children want guidance

Parents are often the first people a child turns to for advice, on anything and everything. If you demonstrate the correct way to use a toothbrush, children will be happy to follow suit and enjoy using one. So even before planning to buy a power toothbrush for kids, it might be a good idea for parents to buy one and start using it in front of them, just to show them that it’s a good thing, even quite fun.

3. Observe how children breathe

Most children breathe primarily through their nostrils, but some breathe through their mouths. This means they inhale through their mouths rather than through their noses. Naturally, for these children, using a toothbrush is more inconvenient and unpleasant than for others. It can be difficult to breathe and brush at the same time.

Coupled with your sensitivity to nausea and small airways, the thought of shoving a large toothbrush in your mouth can seem scary. If you notice your child breathing through his mouth, you can compensate by making some adaptations to the brushing process.

Start using a small brush. Keep brushing sessions short. Be gentle. Ensure a positive tone to the entire experience. Introduce new aspects gradually rather than rushing to teach the child everything in a couple of lessons.

4. Go slow with the toothpaste

In reality, children do not need toothpaste to clean their teeth until they are around 5 years old. Some children will not like the taste. Others may not enjoy the feeling of a sticky, slimy gel in their mouth. These can prevent you from brushing your teeth, much less using an electric toothbrush.

If you start with dry brushing, children are more likely to enjoy the experience and continue brushing their teeth for the recommended 2 minutes rather than giving up within seconds. And the duration of cleaning is much more important to achieving dental hygiene than using toothpaste. In fact, only 15% of the cleaning effect of brushing your teeth comes from the toothpaste itself. Most of the cleaning is due to brushing, the type of brush head, reaching all areas inside the mouth, and brushing long enough.

With these factors in mind, let’s talk about how to select the best electric toothbrush for kids.

The first is the first. Not the kids need an electric toothbrush as necessary to develop good brushing habits. Fortunately, it helps to make the process smoother and thus increases the chance that children will quickly develop the habit of brushing than using a manual toothbrush.

There are some major limitations children face when brushing their teeth that can be overcome with the right choice:

• children don’t understand why brushing is important at all
• children cannot see inside their mouths or feel where there are cracks or hard-to-reach areas that they must try to clean
• Younger children often don’t have the kind of manual skills and hand coordination to be able to brush properly.

For all these reasons, selecting a good electric toothbrush for children can be a very beneficial decision. This applies even to the youngest children whose parents brush their teeth. The electric toothbrush for children is faster, more pleasant and more effective in cleaning your child’s teeth. Children are also more cooperative and will allow enough time to brush their teeth when using an electrical device.

What is the right age to buy an electric toothbrush for children?

As long as your child brushes under supervision, you can start dry brushing with one from the age of two. Most parents decide to start using electric toothbrushes when their children are between 5 and 8 years old.

Much about this decision depends on the child’s ability to use the device comfortably. Many children ask for it after seeing their parents or siblings brushing with an electronic toothbrush. The important thing is to avoid forcing it on a child who is not ready yet. This is counterproductive and can interfere with the formation of the habit of brushing your teeth.

Another factor that will determine the best age to start using an electric toothbrush is the mess created during brushing. If your child is too young to handle one, their bathroom could end up looking like a hurricane hit it!

What factors influence the best electric toothbrush for children?

High quality: Children should have the same quality of toothbrush as adults. That’s because cheaper devices are more abrasive and damaging to your teeth. And younger children have sensitive teeth and gums that are more easily damaged.

Plate removal: Any toothbrush should remove dental plaque. Look at plaque scores before choosing battery-operated toothbrushes for kids. Plaque removal helps prevent tooth decay. Given how many children gorge on sweets and sugary foods, this is very important.

Brush head size: The shape and size of an electric toothbrush head is a very important element in selecting a device for children. The ideal brush can access all parts of the mouth, even behind the last molars and inside the cheeks, but it is still small enough to be comfortable.

Good sows: High-quality bristle brush heads are better at cleaning and less damaging to the gums. It is recommended to change the heads of a children’s toothbrush once a month.

Rechargeable: It is better that an electric toothbrush for children is rechargeable and does not work with batteries. They are safer for children.

Now that you have a clear idea of ​​what to consider, what is the best electric toothbrush for kids?

There are a couple of makes and models that dentists strongly recommend for children. Which one you choose will depend on the unique requirements of your children. ‘The daughter of a dentist’ offers a detailed guide to help you decide.