Siouxland Experts: Dr. Josh from Hindman Family Dentistry on choosing toothbrushes for kids

November 1st is "National Toothbrush Day," and after eating way too much delicious candy on Halloween, I sure need a great toothbrush to celebrate with. But there are so many toothbrushes out there that all claim to be the best, and it can be a challenge to figure out which toothbrushes are actually the right ones for my family. 

To find out more about how to choose the right toothbrushes for our kids and ourselves, I reached out to Dr. Josh Hindman, DDS who, full disclosure, is my brother-in-law. He had some great tips on choosing toothbrushes for all ages, and I'm excited to share them with you all too: 

Meet the Expert: Dr. Josh Hindman, DDS

Dr. Hindman is an experienced dentist, with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa, who started his professional career by serving as a dentist for the U.S. Air Force, and now also has several years of experience in private practice. He's also a dad of 5 kids and loves celebrating holidays, including sometimes with sweet treats. So, I thought he would be a great expert to share some info and help us all be better informed!

How to choose toothbrushes for kids and adults

First, he said most toothbrushes are great, but the hardness of the bristles is key. According to Dr. Hindman, "When picking a toothbrush, it comes down to personal preference with a few guidelines to keep in mind. Make sure you choose a soft or extra soft toothbrush; medium and hard bristle toothbrushes can damage your teeth and gums."

What about special features like electric toothbrushes, certain bristle shapes, singing toothbrushes, etc? Dr. Hindman says "If you like manual toothbrushes, they work perfectly fine, and so do electric options. If you find a toothbrush that makes you excited to brush, that’s the right one for you. Brushing every morning and night for at least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste is the most important part of maintaining your oral health."

How to choose toothbrushes for babies and toddlers

Next, I asked Dr. Hindman whether the same tips apply to babies and toddlers. And they mostly do. He recommends using a clean washcloth with a bit of clean water on it to gently wipe babies' gums daily before their first teeth come in. Then, when the first tooth comes in, switch to a baby-sized toothbrush with soft bristles. Dr. Hindman recommends a rice-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it for brushing baby's teeth.

How often to replace toothbrushes

I also asked how often parents should be buying new toothbrushes for our kids and ourselves. Dr. Hindman recommends replacing toothbrushes (or toothbrush heads if replaceable) about every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are getting flattened or otherwise looking worn out. He mentioned that thinking of it as buying a new toothbrush each season can be one helpful way to remember it.

Of course, one of my personal favorite strategies for getting a new toothbrush is going to checkups with Dr. Hindman and getting a toothbrush in my goodie bag at the end! If you're ready to try this method yourself, you can visit the Hindman Family Dentistry website or give the office a call at (712)274-2228. 

Thanks for the great tips, Dr. Hindman!

This is the first post in my new Siouxland Experts series. If you're a local expert who would like to help parents, or a local parent with a question you'd love an expert to answer, please reach out to me anytime with your ideas and questions.