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The need to maintain hygiene
More than 15 thousand bacteria and microbes live in the mouth. By feeding on food particles, they secrete acids that corrode tooth enamel. If you do not follow a set of hygienic measures, a carious cavity will form.
Oral hygiene includes disinfecting measures aimed at removing dental plaque. Maintaining these steps is an important step in preventing dental disease.
By following the rules of cleanliness you can achieve:
- fresh breath;
- healthy enamel color;
- destruction of pathogenic microflora;
- high quality teeth;
- prevention of caries, gum disease and periodontal disease.
Every person needs increased oral care, especially smokers and people with weak immune systems.
How to brush a baby's teeth with a fingertip?
Using a fingertip or napkin is quite simple. The algorithm for brushing teeth for children under 6 months includes the following steps:
- Wrap the cloth around your little finger.
- Use gentle movements to clean your gums, as well as the inside of your cheeks and tongue.
- Using circular movements, treat the lower gum first and then the upper.
The time for cleansing the oral cavity depends on the emotional reaction of the baby. It is important not to overdo it with cleaning, so as not to disgust the baby.
Teeth cleaning for infants from 6 months to 1 year includes the following steps:
- Place a fingertip or napkin on your pinky or index finger.
- Brush your teeth in a circular, sweeping motion without applying pressure. Brush your teeth from the gums to the top.
- It is enough to massage the areas where teeth have not yet erupted for one minute.
- Use your example to show your child how to rinse his mouth with water. Over time, the baby will learn and begin to repeat this procedure after you.
The safety and long service life of the finger brush for infants will be ensured by compliance with the rules of its use:
- Before the first and each subsequent use, wash the brush in warm water with antibacterial or laundry soap.
- You should not boil fingertips that are not intended for this purpose, or put them in a microwave oven.
- After use, the brush should be dried naturally, holding it on a clean towel for 30-40 minutes.
- Before each use, be sure to check the integrity of the brush.
- Be sure to store the silicone fingertip separately from adult brushes, in a separate case.
- Finger brushes should be changed at least once every 2-3 months.
We hope that our recommendations for brushing teeth for infants will be useful to you. Remember, timely care of the baby’s teeth and gums using a fingertip or a special napkin will improve blood circulation in the gums and mucous membranes, eliminate stagnation in the gum tissue, strengthen them, and also prevent bleeding, swelling and inflammation of the tissues during teething.
Sources:
- Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of toothpaste “ASEPTA PLUS” GENTLE WHITENING” Author: doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
- Report on the determination/confirmation of the preventive properties of personal oral hygiene products “ASEPTA PLUS” Remineralization doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
- Clinical experience in using the Asepta series of products Fuchs Elena Ivanovna Assistant of the Department of Therapeutic and Pediatric Dentistry State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education Ryazan State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation (GBOU VPO RyazSMU Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia)
Types of hygiene
Measures to maintain the microflora of the oral cavity are divided into 2 types:
- Personal hygiene.
This is the basis for maintaining healthy teeth, preventing gum inflammation, caries and enamel destruction. High-quality and effective personal hygiene is not only about brushing your teeth. And it is advisable to know the basic measures to maintain “order” in the mouth from childhood.
- Professional cleaning.
It is performed by a dentist in a medical office.
It is important to note that these points do not exclude, but complement each other. It is necessary to undergo a preventive examination (2 times a year), observe the rules of personal hygiene and periodically resort to deep cleaning. All this will help prevent oral diseases and maintain the attractiveness of your smile.
How are the first teeth cut?
Teaching your child the rules of personal hygiene
Children are taught hygiene procedures from the first days of life. Find out how to teach your child to practice personal hygiene on his own.
The main symptoms of teething in infants are increased salivation and swelling of the gums.
The process is usually uncomfortable for the child and may be accompanied by increased moodiness and crying for no reason, insomnia and loss of appetite. A slight increase in temperature
(up to 38°C) may be a natural protective reaction of the body, but in this case the child should be shown to a doctor.
You can help the baby a little. Buy several teethers
- rubber or plastic toys for the child to bite on.
Chewing rings with liquid inside, which are first placed in the refrigerator to cool, has a particularly soothing effect. Additional methods
: Gently massage the baby's gums with a gauze pad soaked in cold water, or use baby teething gels with anesthetics, which the pediatrician will recommend.
Feature of carrying out independent hygiene procedures
A full range of hygiene procedures includes:
- Using a toothbrush.
They are traditional (manual), electric and ultrasonic. It is believed that an electric brush is more effective in combating deposits and removing plaque. Many people are concerned about the issue of gum trauma. However, if the replacement head fits tightly on the brush and there are no chips on its body, it will not cause harm to your teeth and gums. In any case, in order for the cleaning process with any type of brush to be of high quality, it is important to devote at least 2-3 minutes to it.
- Using toothpaste.
Rospotrebnadzor identifies 4 types of the most effective pastes:
- Fluorine-containing. Reduces the risk of developing caries and demineralization of enamel.
- Whitening;
- Desensitizing. Reduces tooth sensitivity;
- With triclosan. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. It is desirable that the paste does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium cocosulfate, fluorine, or titanium dioxide.
- Using brushes and dental floss.
They remove food debris stuck in the interdental space.
- Use of rinses.
Essentially, these are antiseptic solutions that reduce the number of microbes in the mouth and also eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Using an irrigator.
This is a device that uses water to help clean teeth from food debris. The percentage of oral cavity cleansing is 99%. An irrigator is an intermediate step between home and professional cleaning. But if you want to spend as little money as possible on a dentist and enjoy your dental health as much as possible, then you can’t do without it.
Oral hygiene products
Toothbrush
The simplest and most well-known hygiene product, which is used to remove food particles and remove plaque formed on teeth.
Toothbrushes vary in shape, type of bristles and hardness, which are selected taking into account the condition of the teeth and gums.
Dental floss
Used to remove food from the interdental space. Dental floss varies in the number of fibers and cross-sectional shape. These products must be used carefully so as not to accidentally damage the gums at the roots of the teeth.
Toothpaste/gel
The product is used for hygienic treatment, prevention or treatment of various diseases of the oral cavity.
Toothpaste or gel is selected individually depending on the condition of the teeth and gums and the desired effect (elimination of unpleasant odor, reduction of tooth sensitivity, whitening, etc.).
Professional cleaning
Since it is impossible to provide proper protection of the oral cavity from caries and other more serious diseases at home, dentists insist on visiting professional cleaning at least twice a year. The main advantages of this procedure:
- reduction of pathogenic microflora;
- increasing local immunity;
- removal of dental plaque.
Professional cleaning includes several stages:
- Removing soft plaque using the Air Flow air-abrasive technique. The device precisely delivers a powerful water-air jet, saturated with small abrasive particles, onto the tooth surface. Thanks to this, the area of the periodontal canals is cleared of pigmented plaque.
- Ultrasonic cleaning. Has antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. Thanks to thin attachments, the ultrasonic method helps remove stone from the supragingival part of the tooth, from under the gum and from the gingival canals.
- Polishing enamel with special pastes. To prevent plaque from sticking to the teeth, their surface should be as smooth as possible. Phyto-extracts have a mild whitening effect and also help strengthen the enamel.
- Strengthening fluoride therapy. This stage is not mandatory, but is carried out at the request of the patient. Disposable mouth guards are filled with a special remineralizing gel and placed on the upper and lower jaw. The gel lasts until it forms a thin protective film and is then washed off with water.
“Even with high-quality personal hygiene (and not everyone can boast of it) and cleansing of soft plaque, hard plaque (tartar) forms. This is due to both food debris and the mineral composition of saliva. Dental plaque contains a huge number of bacteria that cause and maintain inflammation in the periodontal tissues (tissues surrounding the tooth). Constantly inflamed gums cause bad breath, bleeding, and the saddest consequence is the destruction (loss) of bone tissue around the tooth. This disease is called periodontitis or periodontal disease, and it is what leads to tooth loss. With age, the rate of formation of hard plaque increases, and the risk of remaining without teeth increases. Regular professional hygiene allows you to promptly remove hard plaque and, therefore, protects teeth from falling out.”
Sergey Andreev
Candidate of Medical Sciences, dentist-therapist, orthopedic dentist, pediatric dentist
Teething
It is often difficult for parents to determine whether their baby is cutting a tooth or whether his reaction is caused by other reasons. Teething may be indicated by excessive salivation, redness of the gums, irritation of the skin around the mouth, diarrhea, and frequent awakenings at night. If your baby happily allows you to put your finger in his mouth and massage his gums, but does not allow you to look into his mouth, this is one of the signs of teething. In some children, teeth erupt evenly from month to month, while in others, sharp bursts are interspersed with pauses. Sometimes in a week 4 tubercles appear at once, indicating the imminent appearance of new teeth; in this case, you will have a particularly troublesome time.
The teething process can be disturbing and irritating for your baby. When temporary chewing teeth are cut, some babies experience very severe pain and their gums become swollen. You can relieve your baby's discomfort by using a cold compress in the shape of a dental arch. Breaking teeth make the baby want to chew on something or someone. He needs something hard to scratch his irritated gums on. During this period, teeth marks may appear on the railings of the crib, and the baby may bite and squeeze your finger and even your breast with his gums during feeding. Give your baby something cold and hard to chew on - this could be a refrigerated cookie or a special chew ring.
As for food, the situation here is different. For some children, teething does not affect their nutrition in any way, some require more food, but there are also children who refuse to eat during the teething period. The most important thing is not to panic, the baby will not remain hungry: as soon as the pain goes away, the child will make up for lost time. Try to ease your baby's suffering by using a cold spoon to feed.
Be sure to buy special “teethers” at the pharmacy (preferably with pimples and a special gel inside). Before giving them to your child, you can put them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes - the effect will be better. If a child has a high fever and it is clear that he is in pain, give him an antipyretic, but always paracetamol-based. When teething, it is also recommended to lubricate the gums with special gels. One of the most famous is “Kalgel”, although its effect lasts for a maximum of half an hour. "Solcoseryl" is more effective in this sense. However, these drugs should not be used too often: a maximum of 6 times a day, with breaks of at least 3 hours.
During the period of teething, the child especially needs special care for the oral mucosa. Biologically active components from toothpastes should help relieve inflammation and the accompanying pain symptom. They cannot be found in regular toothpastes, so the optimal choice during this period is ROX toothpastes. In particular, toothpaste “ROKS baby aroma of linden from 0 to 3 years”: in addition to the fact that it does not contain fluoride, fragrances and sodium lauryl sulfate and is safe for the child’s body when swallowed, it includes high concentrations of xylitol, which has a pronounced anti-caries effect. In addition, the paste contains linden extract, which has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, necessary for teething.
Oral Care Tips
We have collected the top 5 tips from dentists that must be followed to keep your teeth beautiful and healthy.
- Don't go to bed with unclean teeth. Otherwise, the microbes will secrete lactic acid, which causes caries.
- Learn proper teeth brushing techniques. For example, clean them with smooth circular movements without strong pressure, hold the brush at an angle of 45 degrees, treat not only the outer, but also the inner and chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Clean your tongue at the end of each brushing of your teeth, as plaque, consisting of dead mucous cells, food particles and microorganisms, is regularly deposited on it.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Plant foods contain dietary fiber that helps remove plaque from your teeth and tongue. In addition, fruits are excellent sources of vitamins to maintain oral health.
- Limit your consumption of starchy and sweet foods. The fast carbohydrates they contain stimulate the growth of cariogenic bacteria.
What do we know about baby teeth?
The first milk teeth appear in children from 5 to 8 months . The final growth of baby teeth occurs around the age of three , and the replacement of baby teeth with molars begins at the age of six . The process of changing baby teeth is quite long and can last up to 14 years .
Milk teeth differ from molars , primarily by the lower part of the tooth, hidden by the gum. Baby teeth lack a long root that holds the molar in the gum. Baby teeth are smaller in size than molars. A slight curvature of baby teeth should not cause concern - the position of the teeth can change as the child grows up.
Baby teeth are formed long before birth in the mother's womb . The child takes the substances necessary for this (primarily calcium) from the mother’s body. That is why pregnant women are recommended to take vitamins specially designed for them. If there is a lack of calcium in the mother’s body, her own teeth are in danger of trouble.
What happens if you don't maintain hygiene?
If you neglect the process of oral hygiene care, it can ultimately lead to many unpleasant consequences. Among them:
- Caries;
- Gingivitis (gum inflammation);
- Candidiasis (infection caused by bacteria of the genus Candida. Manifests itself in the form of a yellowish and grayish coating);
- Periodontitis. This is an inflammatory disease of the gums, characterized by tissue atrophy;
- Stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa).
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Choosing a brush and toothpaste for your baby
How to choose a toothbrush
Conventional, electric or ultrasonic? Soft or hard? Synthetic or natural? Accurate answers to all questions.
A baby toothbrush looks like this.
It has a short working part - from 18 to 25 mm. Until the age of five, a child has a brush with very soft (extra soft) synthetic bristles, and from a later age - with soft bristles with rounded ends. The handle of the children's brush is thicker, with non-slip inserts - this makes it easier for the baby to hold it. Children's toothpastes
are also different from adults. They are low in abrasives, low in fluoride, and contain fruity fragrances and flavors. Look carefully at what age of children this or that toothpaste is intended for.
What kind of pasta should a child under 3 years old have?
If we look at clinical studies that were conducted on the principles of evidence-based medicine, the main component in children's toothpastes is fluoride. Only they confirm their effectiveness in preventing caries.
However, it is widely believed that children under 3 years old should not brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. This position is due to the risk of developing fluorosis due to an excess of fluoride in the body - destruction and darkening of the enamel. But an excess of this substance is possible only in areas with a high fluoride content in water, and is also due to genetics.
The fluorine content in water can be checked on the Russian water map. And the genetic predisposition can be determined by the attending physician after passing tests. If the quality of drinking water is normal and tests are normal, dentists usually recommend using a toothpaste with a low concentration of fluoride (up to 500 ppm) at an early age.
In addition to fluorides, it is recommended to look at the abrasiveness of the paste (up to 50 RDA), as well as the presence of therapeutic and preventive additives in the composition: enzymes, xylitol, herbal extracts.
What to look for in the composition when choosing a paste:
- Abrasives - An alternative, non-traumatic but effective abrasive is silica. It is worth giving preference to toothpastes containing this substance.
- Fluorides - Organic fluorine contains compounds such as amino fluoride (olaflur).
- Dairy enzymes - lactoferrin, glucose oxide, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase. All of them stimulate the development of beneficial microflora, strengthen local immunity and restore the acid-base balance of the oral cavity.
- Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute with properties beneficial for teeth and gums. It prevents the growth of bacteria and reduces the risk of caries.
Biorepair Kids toothpaste with strawberry flavor (from 0 to 6 years)
Apadent Kids toothpaste with strawberry and grape flavor (from 0 years old)
Toothpaste Brush-Baby Apple-mint (from 0 to 3 years)
Toothpaste Mamiae Strawberry up to 6 years
