Electric toothbrushes for children

[ponygirl]

Are they a good idea? Ds1 has been asking for one for two years - he'll be six at Christmas and I'm wondering whether to get him one. Anything that might add some enthusiasm to toothbrushing can only be a bonus!

Any thoughts/tips on use? I've never had an electric toothbrush, so have no idea! Any recommendations? I've been looking at them and the ones he wants all have non-changeable heads, so I assume the whole thing will have to be replaced every 3 months or so. Or is there a good one with changeable heads?

TIA from an electric-toothbrush-virgin!

I awlways get DS (3) A novalty one from somewhere like Superdrug, they're about £3-£4 and change it every few months. So much easier than wrestling him with a 'manual' one!

Dental Hygienist z all over me 2 get 1 4 myself; the very expensive ones (Oral B) do have chageable heads, I thought.

my son has one (he has just turned 3) it is a clogate one and he loves it!@

ds (6.7) has the OralB one for about a year - Buzz Lightyear. You can get replacement heads and it is battery operated but he's had it about a year without needing to change them. Thinking of getting dd a Disney Princess one .

my 4.5 year old has had a rechargeable colgate that he got for xmas last year, it has mad toothbrushing much more fun, the heads are interchangeable and he has had buzz lightyear and mickey mouse we love it hope that helps.

BTW when it go lost, ds had a fit and i went and bought one of the battery operated ones, a) i thought it was really expensive and b)its much bigger and heavier for little ones to use IMO

oops it might be an oral b i will check it but it is rechargeable!!

I asked my dentist about these and she said she couldn't recommend them as she thought children need to learn to clean their teeth properly with a normal one first.

Agree Janeybops but then it also depends on getting them to allow toothbrushing at all!! I've got a great one called the Time Machine that brushes for a set time and is very funky. Got it from the Nutricentre. I'll dig out the leaflet if anyone wants more info.

But Janeybops, you still scrub them over your teeth like a non-electric one. The electric motion just gets more muck out, if you see what I mean.