Contents:
- Medical Video: How to Use Mouthwash Gel : Caring for Your Teeth
- Since when can children use mouthwash?
- How do you teach children to use mouthwash?
- Mouthwash cannot replace toothbrushes
Medical Video: How to Use Mouthwash Gel : Caring for Your Teeth
Use mouthwash aka mouthwash for adults may sound natural. However, what happens if the child is introduced to mouthwash early? In fact, mouthwash needs to be introduced early for children. Yes, mouthwash for children is needed to prevent plaque formation in the gums and teeth, and reduce the growth of harmful germs in the oral cavity. Because the plaques and bacteria that accumulate in the oral cavity can cause gum disease, which in turn results in tooth decay.
Check out the tips for introducing mouthwash to children who are correct in this article.
Since when can children use mouthwash?
The American Dental Association, the dental association in the United States recommends the use of mouthwash for children when they are 6 years old. This suggestion is not without reason. Because, children aged 6 years generally already have a reflex to spit, so the risk of swallowing mouthwash is even lower.
Drg. Sri Angky Soekanto, Ph.D., PBO, lecturer at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia also stated the same thing. When met by the Hello Sehat team on Friday (9/11), drg. Sri Angky explained that actually at the age of 6 years, permanent molars will usually begin to grow.
Unfortunately, most people don't keep their molars clean because they don't know that they have grown since they were 6 years old. As a result, permanent molars are susceptible to damage. In fact, permanent molars that have been damaged from childhood to adulthood will not grow again.
"Therefore, before children before the age of 6, they should be taught good habits. Including gargling. So, once the child is able to rinse and spit, the child can be taught to gargle with mouthwash, "said drg. Sri Angky, who also serves as chairman of the Indonesian Dentist College (KDGI).
How do you teach children to use mouthwash?
Teaching new knowledge and habits for children is not easy. You are required to be extra patient in dealing with children's behavior that tends to change and is difficult to predict. Even so, don't make it an obstacle to teach your child healthy habits from an early age.
Drg. Sri Angky shares tips on introducing mouthwash to children. Basically, how to use mouthwash for children is the same as that used in adults. The difference is that parents must ensure that your child is able to rinse and spit.
"Have children learn to gargle with plain water first, then use mouthwash," explained drg. Sri Angky.
Yes, the first step you can take to introduce children to mouthwash is to routinely rinse them with boiled water. To make sure your child is really able to rinse and spit on his own, you can put water in a container that has been marked with a limit or use a small measuring cup that is usually used for taking medicine.
After that, ask the child to rinse his mouth to the right, to the left, and while looking up (but don't swallow). Then throw it into the measuring cup again, not to the sink or bathroom floor. If after spitting the water in the container does not change, it means that your child has started to be taught using mouthwash. While if the water level in the container changes, then the child needs to learn more often until the gargling method is good.
Mouthwash cannot replace toothbrushes
Mouthwash for children is generally therapeutic, which serves to help prevent cavities. Usually omouthwash for children is alcohol free, has attractive packaging, and has many choices of choices that kids love, sweet.
In addition, children's mouthwashes also usually contain fluoride. Fluoride is very necessary for the remineralization process during the shift of milk teeth into permanent teeth. Because, permanent teeth with fluoride deficiency are more fragile and hollow.
Ideally, mouthwash is used twice a day after a toothbrush. However, it is important to understand that mouthwash cannot replace the role of brushing teeth. That is, even though the child has been accustomed to using mouthwash mouthwashchildren must also be taught to keep brushing their teeth regularly twice a day.
The use of mouthwash continuously and continuously may not be necessary, if the habit of brushing teeth in the right way has been consistently done early.
