Many parents have big misconceptions on the subject of brushing baby's teeth. Some parents think that babies don't need to brush their teeth before they are full-grown, some parents think that they can wait until their teeth are full-grown before they start brushing, and some parents think that children don't need toothpaste to brush their teeth, as well as think that brushing hard will make their teeth cleaner. However, all these views are wrong.

According to surveys, there are differences in the timing of brushing for babies among parents. Some parents teach their babies to brush their teeth as soon as the first baby tooth comes in, some choose to brush after the baby has several baby teeth, and some wait until the baby's teeth are all in. But in reality, babies should need to start brushing their teeth from the first tooth. Initially, parents can brush their baby's teeth with a gauze or finger toothbrush, carefully cleaning the teeth and gently massaging the gums. When children are able to hold the toothbrush by themselves, they can be taught to brush their own teeth.

Another misconception is that brushing hard is the only way to get a clean brush. In fact, brushing too hard can cause damage to the baby's gums and oral mucosa, and may also cause tooth allergies. The correct way to brush is to use the toothbrush to gently circle the surface of the teeth, slowly brush each tooth, and then stand up the toothbrush and brush the inside of each tooth. Scientific brushing is 3 times a day for 3 minutes each time. Parents should try to urge their babies to ensure that they brush their teeth for as long as possible and not cut corners.

There is also a misconception that children do not need toothpaste to brush their teeth. In fact, the World Health Organisation recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste for children, which is effective in preventing tooth decay. The right amount of toothpaste will not cause harm to the body. 3 to 7-year-old children should use children's fluoride toothpaste, each time the dosage is the size of green beans; 7 to 14-year-old children also use children's fluoride toothpaste, each time the dosage can be increased to the size of a soybean. After brushing, rinse out all the toothpaste with water and use a cotton swab to wipe any areas that were not brushed clean.

Another misconception is brushing your teeth the wrong way. The correct method of brushing is more important than the number of times you brush. The sawing horizontal brushing method not only fails to brush the teeth clean, but also tends to cause fragile teeth, especially on the hard tissues of the teeth and periodontal soft tissues to cause great damage. The structure of the oral cavity is more complex, and it is difficult to remove intraoral plaque with only one brushing method. The movement of the toothbrush head can be diversified by crossing the four movements of vertical, horizontal, rotating and chattering to complete the brushing process. In addition, you can brush your baby's teeth with them and teach them how to brush so that they can learn to master the technique as soon as possible.

The last misconception is brushing with cold water. Too cold or too hot water to stimulate the teeth may cause bleeding and spasms of the gums, it also directly affects the normal metabolism of the teeth, which will lead to dental disease and shorten the life of the teeth, as well as cause symptoms of dentin hypersensitivity. Therefore, both parents and babies should pay attention to the water temperature when brushing teeth, and warm water is the best choice.

Correct brushing method and choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your baby are both very important. For babies aged 6 months to 2 years, you can choose a finger-type toothbrush, which is suitable for parents to help brush their teeth. For babies aged 2 to 4, choose a toothbrush with a small head, soft bristles and a thicker handle. For babies aged 5 to 7, choose a cup-shaped brush with small bristles, keeping in mind that the edges of the bristles should be soft to clean all the teeth. babies aged 8 and above should choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, a mixed design, and a smaller brush head.

It is also important to choose the right toothpaste. Children should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste, which is effective in preventing tooth decay. The amount of toothpaste used should be moderate and not harmful to the body.