"Hey, Dr. Guyer! Which toothbrush should my kid use?"

At Main Street Orthodontics, we'll always tell you that brushing your teeth - even during orthodontic treatment - is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But the question remains: which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for children's smaller hands and mouths. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or as soon as bristles begin fraying.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't really as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, make sure to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call at either our Niles or St. Joseph location, and we'll try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!

Softly Brushing Your Way to Clean Teeth, From Main Street Orthodontics

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. We always recommend that our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, we recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference!

--Main Street Orthodontics