What are the requirements for choosing a toothbrush for children? How can children still have cavities if they don’t eat sweets?

Parents' Classroom

When teeth are replaced, is it normal for the new front teeth to be jagged?

It is normal. During the development of teeth, multiple developmental lobes slowly fuse together. In the area where the developmental lobes of the front teeth fuse and intersect, serrated developmental tubercles will appear, which is one of the standard tooth morphological characteristics. With daily chewing, the teeth will be gradually worn away, and the serrated developmental tubercles at the cutting end will eventually be smoothed and disappear. Therefore, the serrations are basically invisible in adulthood.

If a child has food stuck in his teeth, can I pick his teeth for him?

Whether it is caused by food stuck in the physiological gap or caused by dental caries, it should be removed in time. From this perspective, you can pick your child's teeth. To avoid hurting the teeth, it is best to use dental floss to remove the residues stuck in the gaps between the teeth for the child, rather than using a toothpick to pick the child's teeth.

What are the requirements for choosing a toothbrush for children?

Everyone knows that when buying a toothbrush for a child, you should choose a children's toothbrush. Generally speaking, the brush head of a children's toothbrush is relatively small, which is suitable for the smaller mouth of a child, making it convenient for the toothbrush to rotate flexibly in the mouth, and can effectively remove food residues and tooth decay bacteria in various locations. Children's toothbrushes should be selected with soft bristles, but don't blindly pursue "soft-bristled toothbrushes". Too soft bristles cannot effectively remove soft deposits on the child's tooth surface, and the ability to remove dental plaque (formed by bacteria attached to the tooth surface and multiplying on it) is poor.

My child rarely eats candy, so why does he still have cavities?

Foods high in sugar are more conducive to bacterial growth. Bacteria produce acid, which acts on teeth for a long enough time, and tooth decay will occur. It is the sugar and carbohydrates in the food that will be broken down by bacteria to produce acid, not just various candies. Therefore, all foods with high sugar and carbohydrate content may be the culprit of children's tooth decay, such as various candies, biscuits, chocolates, cakes, jams, preserved fruits, sugary drinks, etc. Parents should pay attention to reducing the amount and frequency of children's consumption of such foods. Not paying attention to oral hygiene and dietary hygiene can also cause tooth decay.

Review: Experts from the National Health Science Expert Database

Wang Quan, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University

Source: "Big Ear Tutu Grows Up Healthy, I Will Protect My Body" from People's Medical Publishing House, "Brush, Brush, Brush! I Fight with a Toothbrush"

Planning: Tan Jia, Chen Yonggang, Yu Yunxi, Sun Li, Yang Minghao

Editor: Yang Minghao, Wu Hui, Sun Li, Wu Zhen