How to brush your toddler’s teeth when she’s not into it
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For Edmonton mom Amie Gray, tooth-brushing was a nightly struggle from the time her son, Henry, was around 14 months old. ?He would fight it,? Gray recalls. ?I would sit with him on my lap, with his back to me. It sounds really mean, but I?d have to hold his arms down and brush with the other hand.?
Even though Henry probably wasn?t convinced, Gray was doing the right thing by forcing it. Baby teeth need proper care, even if they do fall out eventually. ?Baby teeth are very important for function, for aesthetics and for guiding the permanent teeth into the appropriate positions,? says Farida Saher, a paediatric dentist in Calgary.
Saher recommends brushing with an actual brush (rather than wiping with a cloth) as soon as the first teeth come in, because the bristles get into the gum line, the area where cavities initially form. While you should brush twice a day, doing it before bed is most important, because while your tot is lying (generally) still, bacteria has a chance to grow undisturbed. And any sugar left in the mouth, from milk or food, gives bacteria an even better environment in which to grow. Because of this, Saher says, parents ideally shouldn?t nurse or give a bottle right before bed. If you do, the best practice is to wipe off your child?s teeth and gums afterward, or try to do your teeth-brushing session after the last bottle or sippy cup of the night. If you?re struggling to follow a proper brushing routine with your toddler, know that...
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