Evidence-Based Brushing
Evidence-Based Brushing: What Dentist-Mothers Actually Recommend!
There is the textbook way to brush a toddler's teeth, and then there is the real way. As dentists, we know the clinical guidelines inside out. As mums, we know that applying them to a wriggling 18-month-old who thinks the toothbrush is a projectile weapon is a different story.
We sat down to answer the most common questions we get about the practicalities of brushing.
Q: Manual or Electric? Which is actually better for little ones?
Dr. Mary: Traditionally, dentists recommended manual brushes for babies simply because electric ones were too powerful or bulky. Now, age appropriate electric toothbrushes are available which are powered for improved plaque removal but are gentle and safe for little mouths. Sonic technology, uses high-frequency vibrations rather than rotating heads making it incredibly effective at cleaning without the risk of damage or discomfort to delicate gums.
Dr. Annie: Practically speaking, you often have a very short window of compliance with a toddler, maybe 10 or 15 seconds before they clamp their mouth shut. An electric brush like Brushi Bear achieves more brush strokes in 10 seconds than you could do manually in two minutes. It makes the limited time you have count.
Dr. Mary: A top-tier clinical review of paediatric dental studies recently confirmed that electric toothbrushes offer superior results compared to manual ones. Based on the highest level of evidence available, experts now strongly recommend electric toothbrushes for even the youngest patients to ensure optimal oral health.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9955491/
Q: How much toothpaste do we really need?
Dr. Annie: Less than you think! For children under 3, we recommend a smear, literally a grain of rice. The key is the fluoride content. You want a paste with at least 1000ppm fluoride to protect the enamel.
Dr. Mary: And don't rinse! This is the biggest mistake parents make. After brushing, spit out the excess (if they can), but don't rinse with water. Leaving that residue of toothpaste on the teeth allows the fluoride to work its magic overnight.
Q: My child bites the toothbrush. Is that okay?
Dr. Mary: Ideally, we want them to brush, not chew. But chewing is a natural exploratory behaviour. This is actually why we engineered Brushi Bear with a 360-degree silicone design. If they bite down on the head, they aren't damaging hard plastic; they're biting onto medical-grade silicone which is safe for their teeth.
Dr. Annie: If they bite, don't turn it into a battle. Encourage them to say ahh or roar like a bear, while you use the Brushi Bear to do the actual cleaning.
Q: How do I actually position the brush?
Dr. Annie: Aim for the gumline. That is where plaque accumulates. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum. With a sonic brush, you don't need to scrub back and forth vigorously; just hold it against the tooth surface and let the vibrations do the work. Move it slowly from tooth to tooth.
Brushi Bear™ is designed to maximise cleaning for little mouths.
Shop the range at littlebrushies.com
