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Teaching Your Child To Brush

10 August 2016

As parents, we are responsible for all aspects of our children’s health and wellbeing, however this can be challenging for a number of reasons; trying to decide the best way to tackle these issues can be confusing. Starting out with a good routine for oral hygiene is crucial to reduce the likelihood of dental disease in the future.

The best time to start this routine is when your child is a baby. Give them a soft baby toothbrush and let them explore it and put it in their mouth, bath time is a great time to do this.

Every morning and night from the moment their first tooth erupts it is important to brush. This starts from around 6 months and will get them used to you brushing daily. As they grow this will become a part of their routine.

As they get bigger and more teeth erupt you can use a chart to show them which tooth has come through, exciting them each time a new one appears. It is important to talk to them about what you are doing and why as this will help their understanding. You may want to let them have a go at brushing as well (“you have a go first and Mummy will finish it off). This encourages them to take a bit of responsibility for their mouth. Use a mirror and get them to look in the mirror and count their teeth and look to see if they are clean. If using a manual toothbrush try to find one with a small head as it will give better access to a little mouth.
Brush in a circular motion aiming into the gums overlapping the teeth and gumline, counting “1,2” for each tooth before moving on. Make sure you brush the inside, outside and the biting surfaces. For an electric toothbrush, aim the bristles in towards the gums making sure you overlap the gum and the tooth and again count “1,2” before moving on.

There are apps (like aquafresh) which are designed to help encourage brushing in children for the correct amount of time. They have characters and you can build rewards for your character each time you brush. There are also many different toothbrushes. I tend to recommend manual brushes until they are old enough and responsible enough for an electric toothbrush (age varies). There are many out on the market, some which flash for the brushing time and some that play music at the start and the finish to let you know when you’ve brushed for long enough. The main point I would make about tooth brushes is the smaller the better.

If your child is using a large headed tooth brush it is very difficult to access all the areas of the mouth needed whereas a small head will get in and around the mouth in a much more efficient way.

Disclosing tablets or buds are a great help as they will stain the plaque blue or pink and then you can easily see where your child is missing. This can really motivate the child as there can be a reward if they improve and manage to remove all the plaque.

Taking your child to the Dentist regularly and asking them to have a look from a very young age helps to build their confidence that the Dental Practice is a fun place to go. They can start with a ride in the chair and watching you have a check-up and soon they will have the confidence to sit in the chair and let the Dentist have a look.

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I recently visited Briars Dental Practice in Newbury and had a truly excellent experience. From the moment I walked in, the receptionist greeted me warmly and made me feel welcome. The hygienist who saw me prior to my appointment with the dentist was very thorough and gave me some great advice on how to keep my teeth healthy.I was then seen by Richard, one of the dentists at the practice, and I have to say that he and his nurse were fantastic. They put me at ease throughout the whole procedure, were extremely professional and caring, and made sure that I was comfortable at all times. I was also impressed by their attention to detail and their willingness to take the time to answer all of my questions.In fact, I was so pleased with my experience that I would also like to mention another dentist named Richard who saw me previously. He too was excellent, very thorough and professional, and I felt very well taken care of during my appointments with him.Overall, I can't recommend Briars Dental Practice highly enough. The staff are all so friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, and they really go above and beyond to make sure that their patients are well looked after. If you're looking for a great dental practice in Newbury, look no further than Briars.
Beatrice Andreea
Beatrice Andreea
12:07 11 May 23
Thank you for a wonderful experience, I am a coward when it comes to the dentist, Mr Nick French, put me at ease, and has the patience of a Saint. I would also say the dental nurse was I lovely lady who let me crush her hand while I was having my injections. I give Briars Dental Centre 10 out of 10, and would not hesitate to recommend them.
Jan Hamments
Jan Hamments
19:11 29 Jun 23
I had a hygienist appointment with Jo and her nurse, Suzanne. It was the first time I’d tried GBT and found the experience much more comfortable than usual. Jo and Suzanne really put me at ease and made sure I was happy throughout the treatment. It was good being able to clearly see the areas which I needed to improve on brushing and Jo gave me great tips. Would highly recommend
Lauren Jade
Lauren Jade
16:52 19 Jun 23
After such a positive experience today with Richard I thought it only fair to delete my previous review. I am a very nervous patient and not ashamed to say I cried before my appointment. Richard and his lovely dental nurse were so understanding and treated me with kindness and empathy. Richard explained everything to me and allowed me to go at my pace. All options for my next appointment were explained to me and I now have trust in Richard that I feel I will not need full sedation. I was in alot of pain prior to my appointment today along with an enormous amount of anxiety. Richard even explained to me how to breathe when having treatment- no other dentist has ever explained that to me before!Thank you again Richard and to your lovely dental nurse.
Mary Lovelock
Mary Lovelock
15:03 24 Apr 23
I had my consultancy appointment with Chelsea today who looked after me very well. She was very friendly and easy to talk to and explained everything to me very nicely. And also answered all of my questions and made me feel at ease today and for future appointments. It was nice to meet you, and thank you.Glenn.
Glenn Cooper
Glenn Cooper
22:20 23 May 23
I recently had to visit Richard Lineker as I'd broken a tooth.He and his lovely nurse Agata made me feel comfortable and explained what treatment I needed.They work extremely well as a team andmy treatment was painless.
Pauline Preston
Pauline Preston
13:59 12 Jul 23
Wanted to share my mother's thoughts of recent experience visiting Jo Craig hygienist."Jo was attentive , caring gentle and thorough today.I came out feeling fresh and motivated.Well looked after also by her lovely nurse Jenny."Angela Shaw.
Suzanne Hendry
Suzanne Hendry
11:03 21 Jul 23
I am very pleased with the treatment I received. After another dentist had told me the tooth had to be extracted, Mr Fady Khoury managed to save the tooth. The procedure was carried out in a very efficient and professional manner and I am very happy with the outcome.
Terence Marshall
Terence Marshall
16:03 24 Jul 23
Had an appointment with Chelsea today and it went very very well. Had my scans and photos done for Invisalign, which can be a bit awkward but she made it a comfortable experience. She was very friendly, welcoming, put me at ease and asked if I had any overall questions at that stage of the process. She was knowledgeable and explained everything I asked about. It's my first time at this clinic so I'm looking forward for my second appointment to discuss treatment. Great first impression from the moment I stepped through the door! Thanks!
Diana
Diana
11:01 31 Jul 23
A very happy customer! I had quite a lot of crooked and misaligned teeth so Victoria introduced me to Invisalign. She carefully created a program to give me the smile I wanted. In the end it took longer than we had expected but Victoria very diligently took me through every step of the process and she didn’t compromise on any part of the process to ensure I got the smile and teeth alignment we both wanted. A huge thank you to her and her assistant Jen who made every effort to make me feel comfortable throughout. Highly recommended.San
San James
San James
17:16 02 Aug 23
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