How can we best take care of our children’s teeth? How can we make sure that they have healthy teeth?
The specialists at Ardentis Dental Clinics, experts in paediatric dentistry, are here to give you their advice: 10 things you need to know on how to look after your children’s oral health.
1. Brushing their teeth
Begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they start to come out, around the age of 6 months. Brushing their teeth in the evening is the most important, and you should brush your child’s teeth at least once more during the day – twice is ideal. Use toothpaste at least once a day in the following quantities: the equivalent of a grain of rice for children under the age of 3, the size of a garden pea for children between 3 and 6 years old and a quantity similar to that which we, as adults, would use for children over the age of 6. For children under the age of 6, use a toothpaste specifically designed for children (around 500ppm). From the age of 6 upwards, you can use the same toothpaste for the whole family (1450ppm). Make sure that you/they brush for at least 2 minutes and encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste without rinsing their mouth. You can use an hourglass or a timer to help you. We advise you to supervise, and even to help, your child brush their teeth in the evening, until they are at least 8 years old. You should start flossing from the age of 3 to prevent decay between the teeth.
2. The evening routine
Avoid letting your child eat or drink anything other than water after brushing their teeth in the evening. We know that this can be hard to do with young children, but as your child grows up, try not to let them eat (including milk) at bedtime or during the night. When we sleep, our body produces less saliva, which means that any harmful acid can stay on our teeth for longer.
3. The bottle
When using a baby’s bottle, you should only give your child milk or water. Wean your child onto a free-flowing sippy cup from the age of 6 months. If you give your child any drink, other than milk or water, in a baby’s bottle (such as fruit juice, even those with “no added sugar”), you may be putting your child at risk of “baby bottle tooth decay”, also known as baby bottle syndrome. This is because the prolonged contact between the liquid and the surface of the teeth is more harmful to the dental enamel. To avoid this, it is recommended that you ban sugary drinks from your child’s daily feeding habits and that you do not use a baby’s bottle for children over the age of 2.
4. Sugar
Reduce the quantity and frequency with which your child consumes sugar. If you want to give them something sweet, do this after a meal no more than once a day. Avoid adding sugar, honey or any other natural or artificial sweetener to food or drinks. Encourage your child to eat healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, raw vegetables, a small piece of cheese (with low salt content), unsalted rice cakes or toast.
5. Misleading labels
Be careful! “No added sugar” does not mean “no sugar”. Some products may contain a large quantity of natural sugars or artificial sweeteners. The “no sugar” label means that it doesn’t contain any sugar (less than 0.5 grams) but this type of product, such as sugar-free fizzy drinks or flavoured water, is often acidic and erodes the teeth. As a result, this may weaken the dental enamel and make the teeth vulnerable to wear-and-tear and decay.
6. Fruit and smoothies
Dried fruit, especially raisins, and smoothies can contain a lot of natural sugars. They are often seen as a healthy snack but can contain a child’s recommended daily sugar allowance in one serving. As a result, we advise that you do not give this type of food to your child on a regular basis, and that it is consumed with or after a meal.
7. Counting sugar intake
Get into the habit of counting your child’s daily sugar intake. Of course, it is recommended that you limit sugar consumption as much as possible by restricting food and drinks with added sugars.
8. Childcare
Be mindful about what your child consumes when they are being looked after by someone else, whether that be at nursery, by grandparents, by a nanny or at school. Be particularly wary of cereals and snacks: although they are handy, they often have a very high sugar content.
9. Dummy and thumb
If your child uses a dummy or sucks their thumb over a long period of time, it may lead to dental or linguistic problems. The teeth may develop a gap at the front (called “open bite” or hollowness) or the upper teeth may be too far forward (called “overjet”). It is recommended that you stop your child using a dummy or sucking their thumb after their first birthday. The age of 2 may be a more realistic goal for parents, allowing them to progressively reduce use before stopping it completely. As children grow quickly at that age, any problems tend to correct themselves, but it is best to stop your child using a dummy or sucking their thumb as soon as possible to ensure that problems do not develop.
10. Dental check-ups
Take your child to a dentist at least once a year or more if advised to do so by your dentist. We encourage parents to take their children to the dentist from a very early age, starting at around 3 years old, so that they can get used to the experience and to help detect any problems or risks as soon as possible. Before this age, if your child has an accident or you have a query, please contact your dentist.
Find out more about Ardentis Kids
Inspired by a BDA (British Dental Association) article