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If you are here, it is because you want to know when to start using a baby toothbrush, as well as how to choose the right one and use it correctly. The answer is very simple: it is especially important for your baby to become familiar with using a toothbrush from an early age because, even though baby teeth or primary teeth are temporary, their health directly affects that of permanent teeth. By getting into the habit of brushing their teeth early, your child increases their chances of keeping their teeth and gums healthy throughout their life.
Here is a guide to everything you need to know about toothbrushes for babies.
What is a baby toothbrush?
It is an electric or manual toothbrush that must be adapted to a baby's jaw and very delicate teeth. It will allow you to brush your baby's teeth gently and reduce the risk of hurting them and/or making their gums bleed. Remember to replace your baby's toothbrush regularly. It should be replaced when the bristles start to fan out like a palm tree.
Features of using a baby toothbrush
The right age to use a toothbrush
The sign that you should replace your baby's damp gauze with a toothbrush during brushing is the appearance of the first baby tooth. Generally, the first teeth appear at around 6 months. Parents should brush the teeth twice a day. The aim is to reduce the buildup of plaque and the development of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Choosing a toothbrush
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The toothbrush head should be small and compact to fit the size of your baby's mouth. The brush should have soft bristles. They gently remove plaque and therefore help prevent tooth decay. It should also allow you to massage your baby's gums. To make the brush easy to handle, it needs a handle that is long enough for an adult to hold. Your baby must never handle it.
Brushing teeth with a baby toothbrush
Toothbrushing technique
First, moisten the toothbrush and brush all the surfaces of the teeth, moving from the gums toward the ends of the teeth: brush the upper and lower teeth separately. Do not hesitate to gently pull back the lips to access the teeth more easily and make brushing much easier. It is then important to rinse the brush thoroughly with clean water after use and leave it to air-dry in a separate cup. For hygiene reasons, it must not come into contact with adult toothbrushes.
Brushing without toothpaste
A child can develop dental fluorosis if they absorb too much fluoride from fluoride toothpaste during dental development. Too much fluoride can cause defects in the tooth enamel, giving it a mottled appearance. This is why you should choose toothpaste suited to your baby's age. However, you should know that no toothpaste should be used for children under 2 years old. Therefore, simply use water to brush your baby's teeth. Brush both the teeth and the gums.
Different types of baby toothbrushes
The educational toothbrush - Nuk
This toothbrush is sold for 5.90 euros on the Aubert.com website. It is suitable for children aged 12 to 36 months. It has a round head with soft, rounded bristles. It features an ergonomic, non-slip handle. It is also equipped with a safety ring that prevents the toothbrush from being pushed too far into the mouth. The ring also serves as a storage stand. It contains no Bisphenol, which can damage tooth enamel. It is ideal for brushing the first teeth without hurting fragile gums and helping babies learn to brush their teeth independently.
The Ben Le Bambin-Bioseptyl toothbrush
This toothbrush is sold for 2.50 euros on the Bioseptyl website. Its fine bristles adapt to a baby's first baby teeth. It is made with extra-soft fibers for exceptionally gentle brushing. It has an anti-choking safety ring that should be placed on the neck of the toothbrush. The brush should be replaced every 2 months for hygiene and safety reasons, as well as at the first sign of weakness or deterioration. Its handle is particularly playful and ergonomic. It is an eco-friendly toothbrush made in France, free from BPA and phthalates.
The Bébé - Shifting Sand and Blush-Mushie toothbrush
This toothbrush is sold for 7.90 euros on the Takaterra website. It is a finger toothbrush that is ideal for gently starting to clean teeth. It is particularly useful for massaging sore gums and developing good oral hygiene habits in babies. The soft silicone baby toothbrush from Mushie is free from BPA and chemicals. The set contains two brushes: one for you and one for your child, so they can learn to brush their teeth independently through play.
The 1st-age toothbrush-The Brushies
This toothbrush is sold for 9.99 euros on the Vertbaudet website. It has an original, playful design and is particularly easy to use. It slips onto your finger. It is specially adapted to a baby's jaw and gums to soothe pain and help them get through teething. It is especially flexible, allowing you to massage the gums and relieve the pain of the first teeth breaking through. It helps children learn to brush their teeth and develops the habit of excellent oral hygiene.
The Grabease ergonomic double-sided baby toothbrush
This toothbrush is sold as a kit for 14.90 euros on the Les Baby’s website. The kit contains three toothbrushes: a transparent finger toothbrush for parents. It can be used even before the first tooth appears to soothe a baby's gums. A double-sided toothbrush that makes brushing faster and safer thanks to its choking-prevention collar. Its conical head reaches several teeth at once, ensuring that no tooth is missed. Finally, an ergonomic toothbrush adapts to small hands and makes brushing easy and fun.
The Foreo Issa sonic toothbrush
This toothbrush is sold for 89.45 euros on the Look Fantastic website. It is a sonic toothbrush suitable for use up to the age of 4. It is made of medical-grade silicone. The silicone bristles guarantee an ultra-comfortable brushing experience. The toothbrush has a massage mode, allowing it to be used on teething gums for a soothing sensation. The illuminated "Glee" and "Glum" faces show when your child has brushed their teeth for two minutes, and the "Glum" face appears after twelve hours without brushing.
Sonic toothbrushes are generally more highly recommended by dentists, although they are more expensive, because they offer guaranteed brushing performance rather than simply massaging the teeth and gums, as some toothbrushes do. They are more expensive, but you will never be disappointed. You can therefore start with the Foreo Issa sonic toothbrush for your baby. Later, from the age of 4, you can try the Y-Brush children's toothbrush. This is a sonic toothbrush that simplifies brushing all the surfaces of the teeth simultaneously thanks to filaments set at the correct angle, automating the required movement.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what a baby toothbrush is. We hope you will take all the factors related to its use into account so that it is as effective as possible. Following the correct technique and using suitable toothpaste will help you brush your baby's teeth properly. We strongly recommend using a sonic toothbrush for babies and, later, for children. As for the Y-Brush children's toothbrush, its effectiveness has been clinically proven.
For older children, see our children's collection.
