Our baby boy, Krish, has just turned one and has already got lots of his baby teeth through, and having experienced the challenges first hand I thought it would be a good idea, as a Sutton kids dental specialist to write a quick blog post for parents who are in similar positions.
Tip 1 -You should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they start coming through the gums.
Now, this may be a little tricky, as we found that although Krish was happy doing it himself, he hated us brushing for him. We found that he tended to chew the brush rather than brush them.
Our tip would be to use a small amount of toothpaste and let them chew the brush first and then try (as much as possible) to brush them. If you squeeze their cheeks a little they tend to open a little and that’s when you must quickly get in there. Another tip is for you brush at the same time, so they can start to mirror your brushing skills as well.
For 0-3 years old, use a smear of toothpaste containing around 1000ppm fluoride. If your dentist has recommended stronger toothpaste, then always follow their advice.
Tip 2 – Parents should brush, or help their children brush, until the age of 7.
It’s important to supervise children to ensure that they are brushing properly and that they are using the correct amount of toothpaste. Swallowing lots of toothpaste can be dangerous, so make sure to keep it out of reach of young children.
Tip 3 – Always brush 2x daily
Children need to brush twice daily. The best time is to brush last thing at night before bedtime and at one other time during the day. After brushing, the toothpaste should be spat out and then the important thing is NOT to rinse the mouth with water afterwards. The longer the toothpaste stays on the teeth, the better!
Once your child has brushed their teeth last thing at night, ensure they don’t’ eat or drink anything, apart from water.
Tip 3 – Avoid sugary foods and drinks
Make sure sugary foods and drinks are kept to a minimum and try to stick to water and milk only. Do not add sugar or honey to foods or drinks. Once they get used to sugary foods and drinks, it will be hard for them to stop, so, the best thing is to keep it to a minimum. Children will often see what you are eating and drinking, and want the same thing, so make sure you are setting good examples for them.
Dried fruits also contain lots of sugar, so try to avoid those as well. It’s okay to give some to them from time to time but try and keep it to a minimum.
Always ask for sugar free medicines.
If you are interested in achieving the best dental health for your children, then give our friendly receptionists a call at Sensational Smiles. We are located in Sutton, Surrey and our closest train station is Carshalton Beeches, which is about a 3-min journey from Sutton Station. We are a private dental practice, and do free children’s check-ups if one of the parents if registered with us.
