FIRST SCRUBBING TIME
It is a lifelong care process that starts with the appearance of the first teeth in the mouth. If the smallest sizes of toothbrushes and toothpastes specially produced for children are used, this process starts with pleasure. Some toothbrush manufacturers have products for boys and girls decorated with pictures of cartoon characters they might like according to their gender. Brushing done by the parents at a very young age can be left to the child at the age of 2-3, but it should be done under the supervision of the elder. The importance of acquiring this habit at a young age is known, so the child who sees the elder brushing their teeth at the same time starts to move forward with the right example as a role model. Telling a child who hasn’t witnessed their parents or other elders brush their teeth just to brush their teeth will not work. Isn’t that the case in many aspects when raising children? Since they take what we do as an example rather than what we say, it will be beneficial for our children to be healthy and self-care individuals if we pay attention to this issue.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRUBBING AND REGULAR DENTIST VISITS
In our country, not having the habit of going to the dentist without having a toothache, is a major problem in terms of time and money in restoring our oral-dental health. Just because “brushing as it should be” is not done and regular visits to the dentist are not planned even if it is not a problem, it causes both labor loss and extra financial expenditure. However, if effective brushing is done 2-3 times a day and if the dentist is checked twice a year before swollen gums, swollen cheeks or unbearable pains begin, special permissions from workplaces or schools will not be required for dental treatment, and only “toothbrush + Treatment, extraction, prosthesis, etc. costs are not added to a problem that can be solved with a little expenditure of toothpaste + effective brushing.
FIRST DENTIST VISIT
It’s better if we don’t use scary words about going to the dentist for our kids. Approaches such as “If you don’t brush your teeth, your cheek will swell up, they will gouge, give injections, pull your teeth…” will frighten your child and cause them to see the dentist as someone who only hurts, even when it is most necessary. Therefore, it becomes impossible for us to sit in that seat. In addition, you should not reflect the difficulties you experience due to your own dental problems to your child. If your child has to come with you when you go to the dentist for yourself, it is useful to pay attention to your reactions. Even if you did not come with it, it would be good to talk carefully about it at home. Sharing your own worries and reservations can have negative effects on your child.
From the age of 3, you can start taking your child to a pedodontist (a dentist who specializes in children’s dental problems), if possible, just to get used to it, or to a dentist that you trust and that you are sure will approach your child softly.
