Early Childhood Tooth Crushing

Tooth brushing is a necessary skill that should be acquired through early childhood because oral health is one of the most important factors for the prevention of oral cavity and periodontal diseases and general health. Tooth brushing is one of the ADL’s that I perform on a daily basis. I perform this individualized activity twice a day. In performing this activity, the objects/tools required to complete this task are tooth brush, toothpaste, water, and sink. While brushing my teeth, I stood in the bathroom, a foot away from the mirror, in front of the sink, standing close to the compartment where the toothbrush and toothpaste were so that I could reach and grab them at ease. Inside the bathroom, the light was bright and my face was clear in

(2) Grasping tooth paste induces flexion at the shoulder joint, extension at elbow complex and grasp involves activation of wrist/digit extensors and flexors and intrinsic muscles of the hand. (3) Flipping the lid of the paste and squeezing paste onto toothbrush initiates thumb extension with sufficient strength, hand and arm stability, coordination/proprioception and control. (4) Closing the lid and placing on the counter involves thump flexion, reach and finger extension. (5) Turning on the tap requires coordination and strength and wetting toothbrush involves reach and coordination along w/ stability that is required to keep toothpaste on the bristles. (6) Turning off the tap required internal rotation of glenohumeral joint in a flexed position and some pronation at humeroradial joint with possible wrist/digit flexion. When reaching, flexion at glenohumeral joint and extension at the humeroulnar joint is intact. (7) Brushing the teeth necessitate palmar grasp of toothbrush, flexion at glenohumeral (shoulder) joint, flexion at humeroulnar (elbow) joint, and radial deviation. (8) Removing brush from mouth and spitting involves elbow extension, protraction of the mandible, activation of the tongue, buccinator and other facial muscles. (9) Rinsing toothbrush under water

Performing this activity includes walking into the bathroom, turning on the light, and finding my specific tooth brush and toothpaste. In addition, I need to pick up the brush and paste, remove the lid and squeeze the paste on to the brush. After that, it is time to turn the water on to wet the brush, move my arm back and forth to brush my teeth, spit, and rinse my mouth. After brushing my teeth, I had to turn off the water, put the tooth brush back in the cup, and dry my hands and face. While brushing my teeth, tactile sensory input along with proprioception was in action. Touch and taste is a big component during this activity. Since I like Colgate, I’m used to the taste of the toothpaste. Sensation of saliva in mouth and need to spit, not swallow or choke were crucial in completion of the activity. In hand manipulation of the hands, the use of upper extremities, upright position, and automatically timed breathing for the prevention of choking were also necessary for carrying out this