Dentist urges kindergartens to supervise children’s toothbrushing

Guided toothbrushing in kindergartens should become a compulsory part of children’s education because parents do not always ensure effective brushing at home, dentist Anastassia Kuldmaa told Vikerraadio, in a report by ERR.

Kuldmaa, a board member of Tallinn Dental Clinic and the Estonian Dental Association, said children cannot be held responsible if their parents do not consider oral hygiene important.

“Sadly, morning and evening toothbrushing does not happen as effectively in every home as we would like,” Kuldmaa said. She added that parents sometimes simply send a child into the bathroom with a toothbrush, even though the child does not yet know how to brush properly.

Experience from other countries shows that brushing under the supervision of a responsible adult is highly effective and significantly supports oral hygiene at home, Kuldmaa said.

A recent study of 600 five-year-old children across Estonia found that the situation had worsened slightly compared with a 2018 study. Kuldmaa said advice alone was not enough to change behaviour, particularly when adults who do not brush their own teeth carefully also fail to monitor whether their children brush for two minutes.

Two-thirds of five-year-olds need dental treatment, according to Kuldmaa. She said frequent snacking was the biggest problem, as food was too readily available and children’s teeth were not receiving enough attention at home.

Under the guided toothbrushing programme, a teacher supervises children for two minutes and ensures that they continue brushing for the full period. Kuldmaa said the programme would help parents because it was not possible for dental professionals to stand beside children in every home.

She hopes the programme will be expanded to all kindergartens and become a compulsory part of the education programme, alongside handwashing and general hygiene instruction.

In Scotland, nearly all children were introduced to toothbrushing in kindergartens over a 10-year period, while children’s dental treatment costs fell almost threefold. England has adopted the same system and is already seeing a downward trend, Kuldmaa said.

Kindergartens have generally responded positively to the programme. The organisers provide toothbrushes, stickers and toothbrush holders, while teachers are expected to follow the instructions. Some parents have questioned whether a third daily brushing could wear down children’s teeth, Kuldmaa said.

She recommended replacing toothbrushes every three months, or sooner if the bristles become worn. Kuldmaa also recommended electric toothbrushes, saying they made brushing easier. Teeth can be brushed about half an hour after eating, although brushing immediately after a meal is also acceptable if necessary. On rushed mornings, she advised brushing before breakfast.

Kuldmaa said teeth also needed breaks between meals. She recommended leaving three hours between eating occasions and drinking only plain water during breaks, not water flavoured with cucumber or berries. In the evening, the toothbrush should be the last thing to enter the mouth.