Giving young teeth a helping hand towards healthy long lives
Young teeth need just as much care and attention as adult teeth. It’s wise to introduce your child to the dentist as soon as their very first tooth appears (usually when they are around six months old). Even though there will be hardly any teeth for us to examine at this stage, early visits will help your child feel relaxed about attending dental appointments. You can also pick up plenty of helpful advice about tooth care for tots, including how to use dental tools and dietary advice.
A combination of regular visits to the dentist from a young age, developing a good dental care routine at home and encouraging a healthy diet will help keep your child’s teeth in great condition for life.
Caring for your kids’ teeth at home
As well as regular visits to the dentist, you also need to look after your child’s teeth at home.
Babies and infants
Start dental care early by gently wiping new teeth (and gums) with a clean flannel. As more teeth come through, you can start using a soft toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste.
Aged three to six
When your child turns three, you can progress to a pea-sized amount of paste. Brush your child’s teeth for around two minutes, twice a day, and especially before bedtime. Encourage them to
brush for long enough by introducing a child-friendly timer.
Aged seven onwards
Supervise tooth brushing until children are old enough to brush properly by themselves, at around seven or eight years. However, even when they can clean their teeth alone, it’s probably a good idea to occasionally check they are still using an effective technique.
Fissure sealants and fluoride varnishes
For further protection, fissure sealant can be applied to your child’s permanent teeth as they emerge (usually starting around age six to seven). This is a clear plastic coating, which covers the narrow grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It stops bacteria from entering and helps prevent tooth decay. In addition, fluoride varnishes can be painted onto young teeth to help strengthen enamel and make them more resistant to decay.
