Encouraging healthy and positive oral hygiene routines is a very important lesson for children. Helping them understand the importance of taking care of their teeth and learning the proper techniques for cleaning them should start while they are young, and are often picked up from observing their parents oral hygiene habits. A good way to get your child motivated and involved in brushing their teeth is to use an electrical toothbrush.
Children's electrical toothbrushes have little difference to the ones used by adults. Of course, the size is scaled down to allow an easier grip by the little hands of a child. Electrical toothbrushes work by either battery power, or through plug power generated from a wall socket and are often rechargeable, which eliminates the cord attachment during use. Children's electrical toothbrushes look like manual toothbrushes with the bristles at one end and the handle, which is wider than a manual toothbrush, at the opposite end. The bristles will vibrate and oscillate when the power is turned on.
What to Look for
There are many different brands of children's electrical toothbrushes out on the market today. They come in different colors and even characters that most young children will recognize. This is all aimed at helping the child become excited and thrilled about brushing their teeth. Some electrical toothbrushes for children have the standard rectangular bristle head and will vibrate and move back and forth as opposed to in a circular motion, and this type of toothbrush might be good for the young child that is first learning how to brush and take care of their teeth.
Other children's electrical toothbrushes have round bristle heads that vibrate and spin in a circular motion. The smaller round bristle head is good for reaching in and behind the back teeth that are often harder to reach and brush. The round bristle head electrical toothbrushes also come with two heads attached to the tip of the brush, which allows the brushes to reach over more area and get between teeth.
Still, other round bristle heads come with tips that have two sets of round brushes that face each other. With this type of children's electrical toothbrush, the child will position his teeth between the bristles and this will clean the teeth simultaneously on both sides of the teeth.
Because there are so many types on today's market, you will want to look for one that is good at removing plaque and not harsh to the enamel on the teeth. Make sure to check the type of batteries the specific toothbrush uses and stock up on them. Choose a children's electrical toothbrush that has replaceable bristle heads, and that the store you use stocks the replacement heads. Also, ask your dentist to recommend a quality electrical toothbrush for your child.
Common Pitfalls
Electrical toothbrushes can be expensive, and add in the cost of buying one that has cute characters and features like glow in the dark will only add on to the expense; and, it might not motivate your child to brush their teeth anymore than a standard manual toothbrush will. Since electrical toothbrushes work with electricity, it is important to stock up on batteries or make sure to recharge the toothbrush, because if you do not, you will not be able to use it. Some children's electrical toothbrushes do not have replaceable bristle heads and this will cost you more in the long-run.
