Toothbrush Care Tips for Kids

Everything you need to know about toothbrush care:

The toothbrush is a key element in oral hygiene. It’s important to take good care of your toothbrush to ensure that it effectively does the job it’s supposed to do. To help you with this, here are seven kids’ toothbrush care tips you should implement for your child’s toothbrush.

1. Clean the toothbrush completely after use.

It’s not enough that you place it under running water; be sure to check between the bristles as well. Often, food that your kid successfully brushed off his teeth becomes stuck between the bristles of the toothbrush. If the bristles aren’t cleaned properly, the food particles can breed bacteria.

2. Store your kid’s toothbrush in an upright position.

It’s important for toothbrushes to dry completely, so after shaking off excess water, store them in an upright position to air dry. Purchase a toothbrush holder that can hold your toothbrush in the right position. It’s best if the toothbrush holder doesn’t hold it by the neck, which would mean that the bristles would rest on something and not dry completely.

3. Don’t let toothbrushes touch each other.

Keeping your children’s toothbrushes from touching each other will prevent the transfer of germs, especially if there’s a family member who’s sick.

4. Disinfect your child’s toothbrush.

Every now and then, you should disinfect your child’s toothbrush. This is very easy to do — get a small container that you can submerge the head of the toothbrush into and then fill it up with mouthwash. The mouthwash will serve as an antiseptic for the toothbrush. Another solution you can use is hydrogen peroxide diluted with water. Alternately, you can dip the toothbrush in boiling water for five to 10 seconds at a time and this will kill the germs and bacteria. Disinfecting your child’s toothbrush is also important if your child becomes sick, especially if the toothbrush is fairly new, as it will keep you from having to purchase a new toothbrush.

5. Clean the body of the toothbrush as well.

Mineral deposits and dried foam from toothpaste can build up on the body of the toothbrush and turn into an ugly color. You can prevent this by washing the body of the toothbrush, too.

6. Don’t store the toothbrush while it’s still wet.

Storing a moist toothbrush in a case can encourage the growth of mold and can cause the toothbrush to have a musty smell. Dry it completely after use, perhaps with the help of a paper towel before placing the toothbrush in a case.

7. Use a toothbrush head cover.

This is a must if your kid brings his toothbrush to school and is not particularly careful with the toothbrush. Covers are very inexpensive and will prevent the bristles from bending out of shape. You can often find a multi-pack at a dollar store near you.

As always, at Surfside Kids Dental, we are motivated to give parents the tools to help prevent cavities and other dental health problems. We look forward to seeing you and your little ones in one of our five dental offices for a check-up in the near future. Our locations include Land Park, Fair Oaks, Almaden Valley, Pleasant Hill and Elk Grove.

Until then, Surfs Up!