Electric brush for children, yes or no?
The brushing of children's teeth sometimes involves a constant struggle between parents and children, and I do not only mean that they brush every day, but that they are also plenty of time and that they do it well. Therefore, a solution very common is that parents buy an electric toothbrush for the
The brushing of children's teeth sometimes involves a constant struggle between parents and children, and I do not only mean that they brush every day, but that they are also plenty of time and that they do it well.
Therefore, a solution very common is that parents buy an electric toothbrush for their children with the aim of getting them to improve their brushing. But is this the best option? Will our child really become an expert in tooth brushing by magic?
Well unfortunately not.
So, the electric brush for children, yes or no?
Is the electric brush good for children?
Let's start with the principle: what is better the manual brush or the electric brush?
Do you know that the electric toothbrush was created to facilitate brushing patients with limited motor skills? But years later they began to conduct studies talking about the advantages of this type of brushes compared to the manuals.
It has been shown that with a proper technique and duration, the manual brush can be very effective; However, in those people who have difficulty in maintaining proper dental hygiene, the electric brush improves this situation as long as the instructions for use are rigorously followed. In the specific case of children, it is not that your child does not manage with a manual brush, it is that he is at a stage where he is developing his motor skills, therefore, it is essential to teach him and motivate him how to brush. At what age is it recommended for use in children? As I mentioned earlier, the ability to move and the size of the hand of a 14 year old child is not the same as that of a 5 year old child. The children first begin to walk and then to run, first they begin to write in pencil and then they go to the pen, because the same happens with the electric brush. Therefore,
age is one of the main factors to determine this change.
A good trick is to compare the size of an electric brush with the manual brush corresponding to your child's age and in most cases, the size of the electric brush is larger and heavier. In contrast, manual toothbrushes the size is adapted by the age of the child, being this lighter and more manageable for him.
The quality of brushing is also a fundamental factor, since bad brushing often occurs because the manual brush used is not suitable, or the child brushes only at very young ages without supervision, or The technique used to remove dirt is not correct. Therefore, before considering buying an electric toothbrush, consult the specialist because
pediatric dentists have a fundamental role, and is to introduce and guide parents and children in this complex world of tooth brushing. The advice I give, it is always the same, the best brush is the one with which the child and his parents feel more comfortable and eliminate dirt better. What characteristics should a good children's electric brush have? -
Make sure the brush is rechargeable, not battery operated
. There are several brushes designed for children (from Violetta, Lightning McQueen) of disposable batteries. The difference between one and another is that the electric brush always works at the same speed, while the battery-powered brush when the battery is being used decreases its rotation. Que - Make an electric de rotation-oscillation brush with a timer
, which indicates how long you should be brushing your teeth, 2 minutes. And of course, that the child is clear that because the brush moves you do not have to spend less time brushing your teeth. In conclusion, the main thing is not the object, but the child's learning towards
correct brushing technique. It is necessary to get rid of the idea of buying an electric toothbrush because the child does not know how to brush with the manual brush, because in order for our son to acquire a habit and achieve good dental hygiene, it is essential to teach and motivate them. Our mission as pediatric dentists, is to create and implement dental hygiene instructions based on the age and capabilities of the child, with which we advise on the most appropriate type of toothbrush and toothpaste, show the child how to pick up the brush, and how they should move it; that is, to accompany the families to get an adequate dental hygiene.
