What toothbrush should I give my kid? Manual or Electric

The choice of toothbrush that should be given to a kid is any toothbrush that boosts the interest of the child in brushing one’s teeth. Both manual and electric toothbrushes have their own merits and demerits. Also it is most important that we choose a toothbrush that is easy, entertaining and healthy for the child; it is to be done with great care.

 It would be best to first discuss the difference between both the toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes that have circular heads hit only one tooth at a time and may take a long time to do a thorough job; they require your toddler to be patient. Manual toothbrushes do the job more efficiently as you brush back and forth and cover many teeth at a time; they are best suited for wrigglers. It is best for you as a parent to choose a toothbrush that suits the nature of your kid.

A few important considerations in choosing a tooth brush:  

 Choose a toothbrush that meets the American Dental Association’s (ADA) rigorous standards. The ADA seal means the brush would last for a normal period of time will have no unsafe components or rough edges.

Skip firm or even medium bristles and choose a toothbrush that has soft rounded bristles; also known as polished bristles these toothbrushes are gentler on your kid’s gums and teeth.  

   Choose a manual or electric toothbrush that fits comfortably in the kid’s mouth and is easy to maneuver into all those nooks and crannies where bits of food can hide. Also choose a big handle that makes it easy to grip and control.

    Go for the gimmicks like music that stops when all is done or a model that lights up; you kid could then scrub away in the dark in his private dental disco.

Make tooth brushing a game by counting all the choppers one by one as you brush; most kids have 20 choppers, ten at top and ten on bottom when 3 years of age.

To make tooth brushing effective let the kid choose the flavor of toothpaste one likes and enjoys brushing with.

Sing your own song your child knows well, so he/she knows exactly how much time is left till he/she is done.

Have you got your kid a toothbrush – manual or electric?

Image Courtesy: Google