Parents are always looking for ways to keep their children healthy and happy. Thankfully, in today’s world, much information is in our hands that helps us make informed decisions regarding our child’s health. One aspect of health that is very important is oral hygiene, and parents often wonder if using an electric toothbrush has any significant benefits that justify their use in children. In this article, you will learn the answer to this question and the importance of taking your child to our kids dentist near you.
What is the importance of oral hygiene?
Dentists always discuss how important it is to maintain good oral health habits. From a young age, we are told to brush our teeth after every meal and floss daily. Also, frequently visiting our dentist near you is often emphasized. These habits help remove a sticky film of bacteria called plaque from the surface of your child’s teeth. Plaque is responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, which are the leading causes of gum disease.
Tooth decay occurs when the plaque on the surface of your child’s teeth interacts with sugars and produces an acid that damages the outer layer of teeth (the enamel), which leads to infection of the central parts of your teeth. On the other hand, gum disease starts as the inflammation of your gums and, over time, leads to the buildup of plaque and tartar on your tooth’s roots, resulting in bone loss.
How does an electric toothbrush improve oral hygiene?
Even though electric toothbrushes are marketed as being considerably more efficient than manual ones, the truth is that it all depends on how your child brushes their teeth. Nevertheless, studies have shown that electric toothbrushes have higher levels of vibration and oscillation than our hands. Generally, they have smaller heads built to focus more on each tooth, in contrast to the larger heads of manual toothbrushes that can be in contact with more teeth at once. These features make them slightly superior to a manual toothbrush for plaque removal.
So, are they better for your child?
Just because they are more efficient doesn’t mean they are your child’s best option. There are many things to be considered, and you could benefit from asking our dentist in Waterloo for personalized advice before making this decision. Generally, electric toothbrushes are better for older children who are more independent and can brush their teeth alone. However, when it comes to toddlers, manual toothbrushes are better since they can address more teeth at once. This is convenient since toddlers tend to be fussier and don’t concentrate during this activity.
When to take your kid to a pediatric dentist near you
As beneficial as an electric toothbrush can be for your child’s oral hygiene, it doesn’t decrease the importance of regular visits to our dental office near you. It would help if you took your child to our pediatric dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts, and after this first appointment, regular checkups are required. At these visits, our dentist can examine your child’s teeth for signs of tooth decay. Also, there are many things they can do to prevent dental issues, like using dental sealants to stop cavity formation. Furthermore, regular visits are essential to build a trusting relationship between your child and our dentist and make them understand the importance of oral health from a young age.