Children's toothbrushes: What should I know when choosing a brush?

There is a large selection of toothbrushes for babies and children. They are available in all shapes and colours from drugstores and supermarkets. Pay attention to the age specifications when choosing both baby and children's toothbrushes. There is a correct toothbrush for every age level since the oral cavity, teeth and even the jaw are constantly developing. An age-appropriate children's toothbrush forms the basis. Here is some advice on what you should know when buying the right brush and when an electric toothbrush is a good idea for children.

1. Which toothbrush for babies?
2. Which toothbrush for children?
3. When is an electric toothbrush suitable for children?

The teeth and oral cavity of babies are much smaller than that of children. When the first milk teeth appear, make sure you get a baby toothbrush with very soft, short bristles, a small head and a large, non-slip handle. During this stage, the parents are responsible for brushing the baby's teeth, which means that the brush must be easy for the adult to hold.

As soon as all the milk teeth are there, it is recommended to change from a baby toothbrush to a children's toothbrush. Children's toothbrushes have somewhat longer, soft bristles, a narrow head and a handle suitable for children so that they can practise brushing themselves.

Bright colours and a child-appropriate design add to making brushing fun. So it is fine to let your child choose their own toothbrush.

Brushes with bristles that are somewhat higher at the sides are suitable for children from around the age of 5. These help the uneven chewing surfaces and interdental spaces to be brushed with more precision.

From around 8 years of age, children can use adult toothbrushes since the teeth and oral cavity are now big enough for this. The child's motor skills are then also sufficiently developed that they can brush their teeth themselves.

It is important to regularly change the child's toothbrush and not to leave it too late. After all, brushing the teeth twice a day naturally leaves traces on the baby's toothbrush. Smaller children also like to chew on their brush. In this case, the brush no longer cleans the way it should and the teeth are not properly cleaned. When the bristles start bending outwards, it is time for a new brush. This is why dentists recommend changing children's toothbrushes no later than every 6 to 8 weeks!

Which electric toothbrushes for children are suitable for my child? There is no general answer to this question. It really depends on the child as to whether a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush is better suited. For small children who still apply too much pressure when brushing, a manual toothbrush is recommended. Electric brushes can remove the plaque on the teeth more thoroughly, but can also result in mild gum injuries and can damage the enamel if too much pressure is applied. For four to five year olds who insist on brushing their teeth themselves, electric toothbrushes could offer a good alternative here. The rotations of the brush head can remove more plaque than the still rather untrained attempts with manual brushes at this age. The same applies to using a sonic toothbrush.