Moment of tooth
Dentists tell LISA SALMON how to keep children’s teeth healthy so they always have a gleaming smile
parents love to see a great big toothy grin on their children’s faces – but that gorgeous smile needs looking after.
The Oral Health Foundation’s (dentalhealth.org) National Smile Month (smilemonth.org) (from May 17 to June 17) is aiming to highlight important oral health issues to help prevent tooth decay in both adults and children.
Follow these steps for healthy teeth...
1. Take them to the dentist early
The Oral Health Foundation (OHF) recommends taking children to the dentist before their first birthday and then taking them as often as the dentist suggests.
“By taking a child while they’re young, you can get them used to the sights and sounds of a dental practice, helping them feel more comfortable for future visits,” explains Dr Ben Atkins, president of the OHF.
2. Get them used to brushing
As soon as the first baby teeth start to appear, start to clean them.
“At first you may find it easier to use a piece of clean gauze or cloth wrapped around your forefinger,” suggests Dr Atkins.
“As more teeth appear, you’ll need to use a baby toothbrush.
“Use a pea-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste and gently massage it around the teeth and gums.”
3. Use the right toothpaste
The OHF says the first ingredient you should look for in children’s toothpaste is fluoride, which helps protect teeth from decay and erosion.
All children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1,000ppm (parts per million). After three years, they should use a toothALL paste that contains 1,350ppm to 1,500ppm.
Dr Atkins says: “A pro-tip when it comes to brushing for both you and your child is to remember to spit, not rinse. By not rinsing it keeps the fluoride on your teeth for longer and therefore grants your teeth protection for longer.”
4. Be careful not to overbrush
Susie Lloyd, a dentist at Bupa Dental Care (bupa.co.uk/dental), says overbrushing can damage gums and cause an increased rate of enamel abrasion, which can be a problem if a child or young person is consuming high amounts of acidic fizzy drinks.
“Acid erosion and tooth brushing abrasion significantly speed up the amount of tooth surface loss,” she warns.
5. Only water during the night
If children have milk before bed, they should brush their teeth afterwards, and then only drink water till the morning, says Susie.
Leaving bottles of milk or juice in a cot overnight is the leading cause of nursery (or bottle) baby tooth decay.
Juice contains sucrose, and milk contains maltose which are forms of sugar that will sit on the teeth overnight.
6. Cut down on sugar
The OHF says parents should try to avoid sugary food and drinks in their children’s diet as much as possible.
Susie says: “If children have sugary food and drink, the best time to consume it is with, or immediately after, a meal.”
7. Be frugal with fruit
Children should avoid too much highly citric and highly acidic fruit, so eating apples and bananas is better than eating a lot of oranges.
It’s also best not to brush immediately after eating or drinking something highly acidic, Susie explains, as acid softens tooth enamel, so scrubbing away immediately causes more abrasion and loss of enamel, as soft enamel is more easily removed.
■ For more information log on to dentalhealth.org and smilemonth.org