Here at Dental Options we get a lot of enquires from young parents about the correct procedure to follow when caring for their baby’s teeth. There are a few recommendations that we make to start their child on the road to good oral health:
• Begin during pregnancy; it’s never too early to start!
• Follow the ‘healthy eating pyramid’ in conjunction with advice from health care professionals.
• Take prenatal supplements as prescribed.
• Limit the intake of cariogenic foods (which cause cavities) for example those containing high amounts of sucrose.
Once the baby is born, we recommend using boiled water in a baby’s formula as this exposes the teeth to only minimal amounts of fluoride.
Avoid dipping pacifiers into sweetened food. Avoid sharing spoons or utensils with babies as this can transfer decay causing bacteria to your child.
If his or her soother falls on the floor run it under the tap rather than sucking on it yourself.
A baby’s first primary tooth usually erupts between six months and two years of age. When the primary teeth appear you can start to clean them. There is no need for a toothbrush, you can use a piece of gauze in a ball and rub it along the teeth and gums.
For babies who are teething, to help relieve the discomfort you can try the following; wash your hands and lightly massage the gums. Teething rings or a wet facecloth to bite can help, also with teething rings you can chill them in the refrigerator (not freezer) which will help with any swelling.
When most of their primary teeth have come through you can introduce a soft toothbrush and use it with just water. Hold off on using toothpaste until they are about two years of age and then use a pea-sized amount on the toothbrush and brush morning and evening. There is no harm in using most adult toothpastes, as although children’s toothpaste look and taste more appealing, the content of fluoride can be too low and not have much of a protective effect on the teeth. Always check the instructions to ensure it’s age suitable. 500ppmf is recommended; this will be on the packaging.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens the teeth. If a child is exposed to too much fluoride white spots can develop; this is known as florousis. This is why it’s important to supervise a child when they are brushing to make sure they spit out the toothpaste and don’t ingest it.
Brushing should take place twice a day and for two minutes at a time, ensuring to also brush the gums. It can be hard to get a child to go through this for two minutes but try and make it entertaining by singing a song, using a novelty toothbrush or even offering a reward. Children normally mimic their parents’ behaviour so it could be something you do together, making it fun and reducing any negative feeling.
Children should be able to brush their own teeth from the ages of 4 or 5 but will still require supervision. It’s not until they are 8 or 9 years of age that they have the manual dexterity to be able to brush correctly.
Flossing can be introduced after two and a half years of age. Be careful not to snap it between the teeth as this could cut the gum and cause pain which will put the child off doing it again. You can floss daily, a minimum of twice a week is recommended to avoid plaque build-up.
Dietary Advice For Children
We are all aware of what foods to avoid ourselves, and the same goes for our children. Snack bars, sugary drinks and sweets are all to be avoided or at least keep to a minimal consumption. Sugary food aids the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Try to get children to eat foods that are rich in calcium, like cheese, and low in acids and sugars. Encourage them to have fruit instead of sweets or wholegrain cereals instead of ones that are highly sweetened.
Something which you might be surprised to know is that some breads and milk, including breast milk, contain high amounts of sugar so this is why it’s important to brush morning and evening.
Another thing to avoid is leaving a baby’s bottle in their mouth when they are nodding off as the milk can sit inside their mouth and pool around their teeth, causing decay.
For more information about children’s dental health, please see this page or contact us on 045 982 483 or info@dentaloptions.ie
