Roughly one-fifth of children ages 5 to 11 and 13% of teens ages 12 to 19 have one or more untreated cavities. Cavities are easy to prevent, but utilizing the proper tools is essential to maintaining good oral health. Read on to learn about electric toothbrushes for kids, when to buy one for your little one, and how it can benefit their oral health.
When to Buy Your Child an Electric Toothbrush
As young as 2-years-old, children can begin using electric toothbrushes with supervision and without toothpaste. Even so, many families wait until their little one is between the ages of six and eight to introduce electric toothbrushes into their child’s life.
It’s important to remember that any negative experiences your child has with brushing their teeth can leave them with a bad first impression. Don’t force them to start using one before they’re ready. When they see you or another adult they trust using an electric toothbrush, they may even ask for one on their own. Additionally, consider turning brushing your teeth into a fun family activity to aid in your child’s transition to an electric toothbrush.
Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes are more expensive than manual ones, but they also offer several additional benefits. Some of the most noteworthy perks of using an electric toothbrush include:
- Features like reminders when to replace the toothbrush head, timers, and pressure sensors
- Longer lasting than manual toothbrushes, so they create less waste
- More effective at removing plaque than manual toothbrushes
- Can improve the oral health of those who have braces
- Less effort required when brushing
- Various speed settings
How to Choose an Electric Toothbrush for Your Child
You may be tempted to buy a higher quality toothbrush for yourself than for your child, but the extra money is worth their continued good oral health. Factors to consider when deciding which electric toothbrush to purchase include:
- Use a plaque disclosing agent – These can come as tablets, swabs, or liquid and react with plaque to stain it. This will make it easier for you to see how much plaque was removed with an electric versus a manual toothbrush.
- Appropriate brush head shape and size – There are various shapes and sizes for brush heads, so make sure to pick one that fits your child’s mouth properly.
- Battery – Rechargeable toothbrushes are generally better quality than ones with removable batteries.
- Bristles – The bristled on the brush heads of higher quality toothbrushes are less likely to scratch your little one’s tooth enamel.
Moving your child from a manual toothbrush to an electric one can be hard at first, but don’t force it. With so many electric toothbrushes to pick from, there’s no shortage of excellent products waiting for your child when they’re ready to make the switch!
About the Author
Dr. M. Kent Smith and his talented team of Edmond oral health professionals offer patients of all ages the effective, efficient, and reliable oral health care they need to maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. They are experts at caring for growing grins and can help you and your child learn the proper way to take care of their teeth at home. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment or have questions about how to pick the right toothbrush for your child, call (405) 341-7773 or visit their website.