While it’s easy for adults to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day, this isn’t always so simple for kids. Besides a ton of distractions that keep them from standing still, children also struggle to work a toothbrush well enough to clean the nooks and crannies of their teeth. To make at-home oral care easier for children, a kid’s dentist in Coral Gables will recommend the use of an electric toothbrush.
The sticky and colorless film of bacteria that forms on teeth is called plaque. Since electric toothbrushes have oscillating or vibrating bristles, they’re more efficient at scraping away plaque than manual toothbrushes. Your child’s hand can’t compete with the 8,000 to 25,000 strokes that an electric toothbrush makes per minute!
It takes fine-motor control to effectively brush the surfaces of your child’s teeth. When a child doesn’t have the coordination to place the toothbrush at the right angle while applying the right amount of pressure as they move it, they won’t be able to remove plaque.
Likewise, older kids tend to brush harder because they think that doing so will make their teeth cleaner. Unfortunately, vigorous brushing can cause considerable damage to their tooth enamel.
Fortunately, you can find an electric toothbrush that stops working if your child brushes too hard. What’s more, using it requires less fine motor control because your child can simply brush with a slide-and-glide motion.
In today’s high-tech world, kids will likely enjoy brushing their teeth while using an electric toothbrush that comes with various high-tech options. Sensors can keep them from brushing too hard, timers can remind them to brush for two minutes, and personalized 3D brushing models can help them track where they brush. Additionally, you can also add fun online characters to keep your child company while they brush!
At Premier Pediatric Dentistry, we’re committed to providing your child with a personal and exceptional experience from start to finish. Contact us today to schedule your little one’s appointment.
